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Dog Breeding Reform Group

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Between 3 and about 16 weeks of age, a puppy’s brain undergoes a critical developmental period: the socialisation window.

Daisy is already 16 weeks of age so heading towards the end of this window!

During this brief window of time, puppies do a lot of learning about what is safe, what is normal, and how to navigate our complex human world with confidence - so it’s important to expose them to as many sights and sounds as possible. But it’s important to do it in a positive way and avoid overwhelming them!

5 weeks or so of this period is spent in whatever environment your puppy is bred in. Which is why being raised in a puppy farm has long term negative consequences for a dogs emotional happiness and behaviour. And also why, if you are getting a puppy, finding a breeder who cares about your puppy and their development as an individual, and raises them in a home environment is SO important.

To learn more listen to the latest episode of The Dog’s Voice podcast where I am joined by Rebecca Norton-Childs from @pupstartsbreeders to talk all about puppy socialisation - and share with anyone you know who may find it helpful.

Click the link in my bio or search for The Dog’s Voice podcast to listen!

#puppy #dogsvoice #dogstagram #veterinary

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Do you REALLY know where your puppy came from? Or might you have been petfished? (Don’t know what that is? Think catfishing, with puppies).

In episode 3 of The Dog’s Voice podcast I’m joined by Lauren Bennett from the @rspca_official to discuss puppy farming, organised crime involvement in puppy breeding and Lucy’s Law.

Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts - and share with anyone thinking of getting a new dog

For more tips and resources if you are getting a puppy check out the Dog Breeding Reform Group Instagram page @dogbrg and website

#learnoninstagram #dogsofinstagram #thedogsvoice #crime #puppy

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🐾 What does a healthy dog actually look like? 🐶

Many of the features we associate with certain breeds have become so familiar that we no longer question them. But when does a breed characteristic become a welfare problem?

In episode two , I’m is joined by the beacon of knowledge and wisdom that is Professor Dan O’Neill from the Royal Veterinary College to explore how modern dog breeds developed, why some physical features can affect health, and what we can do to breed healthier dogs in the future.

• How did modern dog breeds evolve?
• Why some physical features can harm welfare.
• The normalisation of breathing, eye and spinal problems.
• The role of social media and breed popularity.
• Whether brachycephalic and dwarf breeds can become healthier.
• The Innate Health Assessment and how puppy buyers can use it.
• What breeders can do to improve health in future generations.

To listen head to all major platforms - please like, leave a rating or comment and share with any fellow dog lovers!

@dogbrg

#doghealth #benthevet #thedogsvoice #puppies

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If you follow me and find the kind of stuff I post about interesting and want to hear more, if you know anyone considering getting a dog… or you work with dogs… or you just like dogs… listen up!

I am now hosting a podcast, The Dog’s Voice, which is now LIVE!
(LINK IN MY BIO) 🎧

I’ve developed the podcast along with the team at the Dog Breeding Reform Group @dogbrg , where we are passionate about making life happier and healthier for dogs!

We will have new episodes every fortnight, each with a different expert guest.

For the first episode I’m joined by fabulous Cat the Vet! We will be exploring how social media has fundamentally changed the way people choose dogs, and share some of our combined wisdom of having met thousands of new puppy owners and their families over our careers.

Find it on all major podcast platforms, link is in my bio.

Please like it, share it, comment, and send us feedback and requests for topics and guests for future episodes!

#dogs #puppy #podcast #brandnew #vet

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I’m very excited to announce that I will be hosting a new podcast: The Dog’s Voice brought to you by @dogbrg !

Welcoming a new dog into your family should be an exciting time - but it can be an absolute minefield.

We will be tackling questions such as:
🐶 If you’re getting a puppy, how can you ensure you are getting a healthy one?
🐶 How can you spot that puppies being advertised are actually from a puppy farm?
🐶 Why has Norway banned the breeding of Cavalier King Charles spaniels?
🐶 How can we breed healthier dogs moving forwards?

Mixing practical advice and tips, with some general entertaining dog chat, it’s set to be a great listen!

Each episode I’ll have a new expert guest join me, and the first guest will be OG social media vet @cat_the_vet . As we are both GP small animal vets, we will be sharing our own experiences and tips from having met thousands of new puppies and their families, and exchanging our opinions of how social media impacts what we see in practice.

I need your help! What questions would you like me to ask Cat for the first episode?

#podcast #thedogsvoice #puppy #puppiesofinstagram #dogsofinstagram

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A really big day for dog welfare with the launch of the new Innate Health Assessment (IHA) tool by the All Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) at the House of Lords. This simple tool is designed for dog breeders, dog owners, vets, advertisers and more to assess whether any dog is bred with innate health, as in for a life that is fit for function and free of suffering.

What we’ve done to many pedigree dogs just in the past century alone through selective breeding for extreme conformation, exaggerated anatomy effectively, is probably the greatest animal welfare issue in companion animals. And it’s one that is hiding in plain sight, normalised and even glamorised as desirable or aspirational. It’s mind boggling for a nation of apparent animal lovers to have reached this point. Hopefully the IHA tool will shift the narrative on what may currently be ‘normal’ for some breeds but is certainly nowhere near normal for dogs and how nature designed them to be.

Proud to have played some small role in these discussions and progress over the years with both APGAW and the Dog Breeding Reform Group @dogbreedingreformgroup @dogbrg

For more information do check out the newly launched website: https://www.innatehealthassessment.org

#Innatehealth #dogs #dogbreeding #dogwelfare #dog #dogsofinstagram

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Do you know what often doesn’t matter (and actually can be a big red flag 🚩) when you are looking for a puppy?

Seeing the phrase ‘DNA tested’ on the advert.

Frequently this just means the litter has been tested to see if they carry ‘desirable’ coat colour traits and is nothing to do with their health or welfare.

It simply allows the breeder to justify selling at a premium. 😢

But do you know what does matter?

🐶 Having a proven check up from a named veterinary practice in the U.K.

🐶 Health testing through official channels, like @thekennelclubuk schemes, with proof provided

🐶 DNA testing from a reputable lab that looks for health related conditions only and explains the results & risk of developing disease.

For a list of labs to trust, check out this page on the Kennel Club website; https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/getting-started-with-health-testing-and-screening/dna-testing/

🐶 Pictures of the puppies with the mum in a home environment, interacting with her and at all stages of their development. Just a few shots of cute puppies on blankets at ‘8 weeks and ready to go’ should ring huge alarm bells for a puppy farmer or an imported litter

🐶 Visiting the litter in a home environment, with the mother and going at least once before you decide to add that pup to your family. Any puppy you can see and take away the same day, is not a puppy you want!

The @dogbrg have released this open letter to the online selling sites, asking them to force sellers to be completely transparent about what they have, and haven’t, tested their puppies for and I am in complete agreement with it!

#dogbreedingreformgroup #dogbrg #catthevet #responsiblebreeding #wheresmum

I really hope they take it on board and instigate the changes.

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Final episode of Season One of The Underdog Vet Podcast is avaliable now wherever you listen to your podcasts! 🥳🎙🎧🎶🩺

The amazing Super Woman that is Dr Clare Rusbridge spoke to me about veterinary neurology and all the many pies she has her very talented fingers in!

@The_underdog_vet_podcast

#DogsOfInstagram #Welfare #AnimalWelfare #AnimalCruelty #Veterinary #VeterinaryMedicine #Podcast #Listen #Frenchie #Bullies #Bulldogs #Neurology #Dogs #Chiari #Syringomyelia #TheUnderdogVetPodcast #Vet #ListenNow #Neurology #Vet #Animals #Pets #IVDD #Dachshund #Brachycephalics #BreedToBreathe #DVM #Cavalier#CKCS #KingCharles #Spaniels

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Are pedigree dogs higher quality, healthier, more valuable than those of unknown or mixed genetics? Or are they just more inbred and prone to disease? Well a new genetic study has blown the lid off the degree of inbreeding that we were previously led to believe it seems.
🐶
And we wonder why pedigree dogs are living shorter lifespans, suffering more disease and anatomical defects?! It’s not diet, it’s not environment, it’s breeding and genetics! A lot of the time at least. Breeding for appearance over health can no longer continue. We all need a rethink on what ‘pedigree’ even means. It’s becoming more and more clear it’s not necessarily an indicator for health, wellbeing and happiness for our pet dogs in future. Love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
🐶
#dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #doglife #doglover #doglovers #dogbreeds #dogbreeder #pedigree #pedigreedog #pedigreedogs #vet #veterinary #veterinarymedicine #veterinaria

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