As a veterinary practice we are committed to animal welfare and this includes all aspect, not just physical health.

We have regular meetings and put time aside to share ideas on ways in which we can keep improving what we do in practice. This is not only in relation to veterinary care but is also about our commitment to improving overall pet wellbeing through education. During one of our recent meetings, we discussed the findings of the 2022 PDSA Animal Wellbeing [PAW] Report around canine welfare.

This annual survey captures information from pet owners and veterinary professionals and is a great insight. However, some of the results make uncomfortable reading.

• 2% [636,480] of dogs were sourced from abroad
• 20% of owners have used aversive training techniques with their dogs
• 23% of dogs are growling, snapping, biting and showing signs of fear
• 11% of dogs are showing signs of stress when left alone

If you would like to read the full report: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/pdsa-animal-wellbeing-report

Our focus after our meetings is always to ask the question; what can we do to address these welfare concerns?

It is important to get the right advice and support with dog behaviour and training. It may surprise you to know that dog training is not regulated, and anyone can set up a business selling their services without any qualifications. Thankfully it is now better recognised that aversive training is out of date and results in fearful dogs but there are still many “trainers” recommending choke chains or talking about out of date “dominance theory”.

We want to encourage our clients to come to us for advice and guidance on all aspects of their pet’s welfare and have a whole section under PET ADVICE on our website. This includes HOW TO SOURCE A DOG TRAINER? We are also able to put our clients in contact with a qualified, positive reward trainer who uses scientifically proven techniques based in Colchester.

Whilst getting the right advice on caring for, training and understanding your dog is crucial for developing a positive relationship, we also want to support our clients before they get their new dog. It is easy to get caught up in the idea of buying the cute puppy, but it is so important to consider breed traits, exercise requirements and the environment you can offer that dog as well as the financial and lifelong commitment required.

We are hugely supportive of rescues but the number of dogs being sourced from abroad concerns us as there are considerations around disease and parasite risks. Also, whilst some rescues are responsible and carefully match the right dog with the right environment, we are also aware of situations where fearful dogs from abroad have struggled to settle in a home environment and where their owners have not been offered the qualified behaviour support they need.

We want to address this by helping our clients source pets from responsible rescues as well as getting the correct behavioural support from a qualified and positive reward source.

We are committed to supporting our clients through their entire pet ownership journey and we feel that with dogs this starts with helping you choose the right pet from the right environment.

We work with trusted partners, and this includes Paula Slyusarenko who runs a business offering Canine Support Services.  With a background in the veterinary industry, Paula brings a wealth of knowledge around dog welfare and behaviour and has also worked in rescue. We are so pleased to be able to recommend clients Pre-Ownership Dog Consultations with Paula.

This is a great opportunity to talk through the options and get the right advice and support before choosing your new family member. There is so much to consider; breed, size, exercise requirements, rescue or puppy and we are confident that Paula can support you in making the right decisions to ensure a good match and a long-lasting relationship with your dog based on trust and companionship.    

Our own ethos is always to grow and develop our knowledge and even the most experienced dog owner can benefit from advice and support before getting a new pet.

The service costs £25 (which is donated to charity) and this includes a pre ownership discovery questionnaire, telephone consultation and follow up email advice and support as required. If you are looking for a rescue dog, Paula can also help you source your new pet from a reputable and responsible rescue.

Please see our website for more details on Pre Ownership Consultations:

https://blackwatervets.co.uk/services/pre-ownership-dog-consultations/

We also have lots of information on our website on sourcing a puppy:

https://blackwatervets.co.uk/pet-advice/choosing-a-puppy/

We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to find a reputable breeder who provides lifelong back up and is prepared to complete a puppy contract to ensure your puppy has the best chance of being happy and healthy:

http://puppycontract.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-10/The%20Puppy%20Contract.pdf

Our vision as a veterinary practice is to support pet owners with both the physical and the emotional health of their pets. Our website is a great source of help and advice and we want pet owners to come to us if we can help and support in any way with their pet’s wellbeing. This includes helping you source the right pet from the right environment.