Special Achievement Award

Presented to Matthew and GSD Bentley  - coming to classes since last year and never missed a week, Matthew has trained Bentley to walk to heel beside his chair, recall to the front, finish round the back, left hand finish etc. He has taught me more about helping someone using a wheelchair than I have taught him I'm sure. The Wisbech Witches (Allison, Lynne and Anjela) have now taken over the class to progress Benltey's training even further.

UP FOR THE

CCEG

BRAVE HEART AWARD FOR 2018

5 year old GSD Kylie had to have one of her rear legs removed to save her life.

Removed Thursday, walking Friday, insitsed on coming to watch her mate GSD Merlin in class Saturday!

You may remember Oscar, the rather under-socialised youngster that I brought to classes last August/Sept/ October, who went off to the Netherlands to train as an assistance dog?  I thought you'd be pleased to hear that not only did he last week pass his exam to become a qualified assistance dog, but we heard today that he will be part of the Netherlands squad for the ParaAgility World Championships in August this year - which, conveniently for me, are to be held at Wood Green!  He has definitely fallen on his feet in his new home, with a boss who's an awesome dog-trainer.  But I like to think that we helped him on his way. Laura

Another win for outstanding BSD Cloud  Awarded -
1st Place Post Graduate Class at WELKS Championship Show, qualifying him for
Crufts 2019

How common is lungworm?

from the Kennel Club

Lungworm is what we call an 'emerging' disease: it's gradually becoming more common. Until recently it only appeared in select 'hot spots' in the south of the UK, but over the last few years, it's been successfully identified in various parts of the country. It's unclear exactly what's caused this spread (and that of other parasites, including ticks), but increased movement of pets around the country, and abroad, as well as greater contact between wildlife and the urban environment are all thought to be very influential factors.

Not every snail or slug carries the disease and lungworm's geographical limitations means infection is currently relatively uncommon, but it does rear its head from time to time; and in extreme cases, causes death of infected patients, so it is potentially extremely serious.

see other hearth concerns on the Disney Diaries Page....

Microchip Scanner

We now have a Microchip Scanner.... testing we discovered one dog that had been chipped didn't register on the scanner...the chip had 'gone' or stopped working. So after a visit to the vet (who also couldn't find it) a new chip was inserted.
So, if you would like your dog's chip checked please ask.

When using it one  weekend we found most dogs showed concern having the scanner placed near their neck... So, Pat suggested we do this as a training class exercise.... so we will do this by passing the scanner round to a difference class each week.

“Dogs’ lives are short, too short, but you know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you’re going to lose a dog, and there’s going to be great anguish, so you live fully in the moment with her, never fail to share her joy or delight in her innocence, because you can’t support the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion. There’s such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware it comes with an unbearable price. Maybe loving dogs is a way we do penance for all the other illusions we allow ourselves and for the mistakes we make because of those illusions.”
Dean Koontz,