Choosing the puppies

Puppies can be selected to become assistance animals from the age of 2 months. They are chosen according to certain physical characteristics, such as good balance and their personality also plays a key role. Being sociable is really important for a working dog.

Socialisation

After the initial selection, the puppies are placed with foster families to be socialised. This is a very important part of the process and, the socialiser needs to get out and about quite regularly with their dog! (Who said the perfect job doesn’t exist?) The puppy needs to be introduced to all kinds of different situations they could potentially encounter while working, such as walking through parks or shopping areas, meeting new people and even taking public transport. The first year of a puppy’s life is all about learning — learning basic skills, learning to be a confident, well-socialised dog who is not easily distracted, learning to feel loved and needed. The pups also receive all the veterinary care necessary, including vaccination and parasite control, making sure they grow into healthy and happy dogs.

Training

From 18 months old dogs can start their more formal training process. The tasks and commands the dog will learn varies according to which type of assistance they will provide. For example, a diabetes alert dog will learn to alert their owner of an impending hypo before they are aware of it and retrieve their glucose testing kit. The training process can take from 6 months to a year, depending on the dog’s personality and behaviour and how quickly they pick up the tasks. Trainers can spend hundreds of hours transforming puppies into fully-qualified assistance dogs!

Meeting their people

After they graduate from assistance dog training school, they are ready to enter into and essentially change the lives of their new owners! The associations training assistance dogs will look at their sometimes long waiting list of people requiring assistance and match the newly-trained dog with the person they are best equipped to assist. Sometimes the dog will ‘try on’ a few people until the perfect match is made.

Follow up

After placement, the training association will continue to monitor the dog through regular catch-ups to ensure they are healthy and happy in their new home. They can also provide further support if additional training or education is required. All these important steps help to ensure pawfect partnerships 😉

Check out our infographic!

Having a dog

Different dogs need different levels of exercise but smaller breeds are often a great choice for older people as they are easier to handle and safer to take walks with. Small dogs also do well in smaller homes and do not require big outdoor spaces to get enough exercise.

A UK study showed that owning a dog motivates older adults to be more active, supporting healthy aging and improving their quality of life.

Having a cat

If an older person no longer enjoys the same level of mobility or strength as during their youth for the daily walks required by a dog, but are still looking for a furry friend to care and love, a cat is a great option!

Cats are typically very independent animals and do not need to be walked or taken outside to use the bathroom. But they’ll still provide boundless love and companionship for anyone living alone!

A Dutch/Swiss review of studies showed that pets provide feelings of being protected and safe for elderly pet owners.

Having a bird

Birds can make great companions with their beautiful colours and singing abilities. But it’s important to consider a few things before getting one: the size of the cage they need, the food required, the noise level of the bird, and the time and attention each species needs. Since their respiratory systems are delicate, then a bird might not be the right fit for you if you are a smoker. A London study showed that birds can improve people’s mood!

Good Nutrition in Dogs & Cats

Cats and dogs have specific and distinct nutritional needs, which vary by life stage, physical and mental health, and level of activity. Although cats and dogs belong to the same Carnivora order, the dog’s feeding behaviour is omnivorous, while the cat is a true carnivore. So cats must have certain nutrients in their diet that are only found in animal-based ingredients.

In a nutshell, the different food needs for cats and dogs can be summarised as such:

Good Nutrition in Other Pets

It’s not only our cats and dogs who require proper nutrition to maintain their overall health, other pets do too!

When it comes to small mammals like hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs, it’s important to remember that each species has specific nutritional requirements. A hamster needs high levels of animal protein, while guinea pigs have a high need for vitamin C. And carrots should only be given to rabbits as treats and in small pieces due to high sugar levels.

Fish and turtles must be given complete food in flake or pellet form or natural products, and the raw materials have to be selected with care. It’s important to note too that, when it comes to fish, their nutritional needs vary greatly depending on their origins.

Pet birds also have nutritional requirements which are dependent on their different species. Most companion birds are seed eaters but some species, like Robins, eat mainly non-seed diets, including insects, fruit, flowers, leaves and nectar. And we mustn’t forget that pet birds are selective feeders, meaning that they will choose their favourite food only when given a selection. So, make sure to provide a variety of food to your pet bird!

For more information: https://bit.ly/3FIS7qt & https://bit.ly/36qBrbR

Benefits of Good Nutrition

Ensuring proper nutrition for your pet will also improve their overall health. Indeed, without healthy and balanced nutrition, your pet may lag in performing daily activities and remaining energetic, active and healthy.

Good pet nutrition offers four main benefits:

1. Boost for skin and fur health: Pets need the right balance of fatty acids to ensure their skin and fur is healthy. If these nutrients are not provided, your pet’s skin can become dry, resulting in a coat that falls out, splits, or breaks. Fatty acids will help prevent skin problems, reduce irritation and fight inflammation.
2. Improved muscle tone and overall body condition: Protein is one of the essential nutrients that your pet needs for building organs, muscles, hair, skin, and other tissues. Your pet’s cells are made of proteins, so they need more proteins to repair damaged cells or create new ones. Ensuring a proper intake of proteins is even more important when your pet is young, growing, or pregnant.
3. Disease prevention and immune system support: Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients in your pet’s diet as they are important for preventing diseases and supporting your pet’s immune system. While many vitamins help reduce damage done to cells of the body, minerals promote the healthy function of the immune system.
4. Proper digestion: The carbohydrates in your furry friend’s food are the nutrient that aids proper digestion by supplying the fibre that helps with both digestion and elimination. A food that is easy to digest is important, ensuring your pet can easily use all the essential nutrients found in the food.

Why Dental Care Matters for Pets

Often overlooked by pet parents, oral hygiene is paramount for the overall health of your pet. Dental diseases are very common among our four-legged friends, and AVMA estimated that they affect the majority of pets by three years of age. Age is not the only factor associated with dental diseases. The breed can also influence the development of dental diseases, as well as their diet. Flat-faced cats and smaller dog breeds are affected in particular as they tend to have overcrowded or misaligned teeth that are difficult to keep clean.

There are four main ways in which poor dental care can affect your pet’s health:

• Your pet can start developing bad breath or Halitosis.
• If the structures supporting your pet’s teeth become infected, it could result in tooth loss.
• Dental diseases can cause severe oral pain to pets.
• The most dangerous effect of dental diseases is organ damage. This can occur when the bacteria in plaque enters your pet’s bloodstream where it can spread to the heart, kidneys and liver.

To know more about pets’ periodontal diseases, you can also watch this explanatory video by AVMA.

Signs of Dental Diseases in Pets

But what should we look out for to spot dental diseases in pets? The most common signs of dental disease in pets are:

• Yellow-brown tartar
• Bleeding gums
• Red and inflamed gums
• Bad breath or Halitosis
• Difficulty chewing or dropping food when trying to eat
• Excessive drooling
• Change in eating habits
• Pawing at the mouth or rubbing the face against the floor or furniture

If your pet shows any of these signs, you should schedule a vet check-up to prevent any further dental deterioration.

Blue Monday

Taking place every year on the third Monday of January, Blue Monday is allegedly the saddest day of the year. The term was first coined in 2005 by Dr Cliff Arnall and is purported to be based on an equation including various factors such as average temperature, days since the last payday, days until the next bank holiday, average hours of daylight, and the number of nights in during the month. Despite originally being conceived as a marketing tool to encourage people to book holidays, the term has since gained popularity and moved into common parlance, particularly as mental health awareness grows.

The Mental Health Benefits of Owning a Pet

To fight the gloominess of Blue Monday, some people turn to pet therapy. In 2019 for example, pop-up puppy parks took over the entrances of six office buildings in Toronto, Canada. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) organised this initiative, with a view to uplifting the spirits of office workers in downtown Toronto through some puppy power! The event was a success, and it also helped spread awareness about mental health issues.

The human-animal bond offers potential benefits for mental health issues. #PetPower can create favourable emotional, psychological, and physical interactions between people and animals that positively shape societies and communities. And this is not just anecdotal information, as many peer-reviewed studies have confirmed several benefits created by the human-animal bond.

We highlight key findings from four of these studies in our booklet:

1.  A UK review of studies showed that pets provided calming support and were perceived to have a sense of when they were needed.
2. An Austrian paper highlighted the potential for dogs to boost self-esteem and act as excellent social lubricants by connecting people.
3. Companion animals were also reported to alleviate loneliness in a study conducted in the Netherlands.
4. A British study demonstrated that pets constitute a valuable source of support for managing feelings by offering a distraction from symptoms of illness and upsetting experiences.

Clearly, companion animals can help lessen negative feelings and brighten up your mood. #PetPower should definitely be considered a valuable asset to fight the gloominess of Blue Monday as well as mental health issues.

Dogs Trust

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and has branches in other countries, like Ireland. The organisation’s primary objective is to protect all dogs from mistreatment, cruelty and suffering. Moreover, it focuses on the rehabilitation and rehoming of dogs that have been either abandoned or given up by their owners. Indeed, on their website, people who want to adopt a dog can find numerous dogs in need of a new loving home. The charity annually spends time urging the public to avoid buying or giving dogs as presents for Christmas and has created several TV adverts for this purpose “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas”.

‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’

One such ad by Dogs Trust’s from 2019 features a little animated dog made of cork that arrives on Christmas day. While the puppy initially receives plenty of attention during the festivities, it is then thrown away without a second thought as the family clears up the Christmas wrappings and decorations, etc. The cork dog turns into a real dog as it shown in an abandoned cardboard box of Christmas rubbish the following day. Fortunately, someone rescues the dog and brings them to a local Dogs Trust branch.

Think before you buy or adopt

This ad and other campaigns like it are a great way for animal charities to get the message across that purchasing or adopting a dog or any other animal should never be done on a whim for yourself or your family, or as a surprise from someone else if you are not sure that they have the time, the means or the desire to care for a living being. Dogs are not just a gift that can be thrown away with the rubbish and the leftovers from end of year celebrations.

They really are a lifetime commitment.

Winter is quickly approaching as well as the low temperatures accompanying the coldest season of the year.  Just as we feel the chills of the cold winter weather, we should also remember that our pets most likely dislike the chilly days too! Read this blog for some tips and tricks on how to keep our animal friends warm during winter temperatures.

Keep your Pet(s) Warm and Indoors when Possible

While it may seem like an obvious suggestion, this action may be tricky to carry through, especially for pets who really enjoy being outdoors. Responsible pet owners need to be very attentive and not leave their furry friends unsupervised outdoors during freezing temperatures. Our animal friends can be at risk of frostbite and hypothermia when they are outside in freezing weather for prolonged periods. Nonetheless, pets such as dogs, should still get regular trips outdoors to exercise and for daily walks.

Be Aware of Potential Antifreeze Poisoning or Other Health Hazards

While antifreeze is a deadly poison, it also has a sweet taste that could attract your furry friends. Be extremely careful of this health hazard and make sure to store any antifreeze you may have out of reach and always wipe up any spills. If your pet ingests this liquid, they could have various reactions, such as being hyperactive, nauseous, lethargic, to name a few. Keep an eye out for these behaviours and make an appointment with your vet if your pet starts showing these symptoms. Furthermore, pet owners should also be aware that certain chemicals used to clear snow can cause dangerous irritations to their pets’ fur. To limit the risk, avoid frequent bathing of your furry friend as this can deplete the essential oil in their coat.

Be Aware of Strays and Wildlife in your Neighbourhood

While you should definitely be extra careful about your household companions, you should also keep an eye out for wildlife or strays who may be feeling the negative effects of chilly temperatures. For instance, during winter, you should always check under your car before starting the engine as this space can be a tempting shelter from the cold, especially for stray cats.

Scientific research highlights the benefits of the human-animal bond, and findings to date confirm the significant social and societal potential that this bond offers. One aspect that #PetPower affects positively is physical health. Research has shown that pet ownership can lead to higher activity levels, reduction of feelings of depression in cancer patients, lower risk of heart attack recurrence and much more. Furthermore, our mental health can also draw benefits from having a pet in our home, as studies reveal that companion animals can alleviate loneliness, provide calming support, boost self-esteem and connect people who feel socially isolated. Child development is also positively affected. Interactions with pets can help facilitate language acquisition and potentially enhance verbal skills in children. Finally, #PetPower can play a role in healthy ageing. Studies highlight that an animal presence can reduce behavioural disturbances in people with dementia and stimulate increased rates of social contact amongst older adults.

Given this wide range of benefits, Pet Alliance Europe believes that investigating the benefits of the human-animal bond would be an important focus area for Horizon Europe research funding projects.