Waggy Woodland Walk - 17th July

Northill Dog Show

Come along and have some fun at the Northill Dog Show on the 18th May, registration from 11:30, judging from 12:00pm. Barking Mad Broom head trainer Lesley will be judging all classes and the club will be running a flyball competition for the the fastest time. Full details below...

Bach Flower Remedies for Dogs

In the 12.30 Friday class, we were discussing Bach Flower Remedies for Dogs. Whilst we were all really interested, we had limited experience of its use.  I have detailed below the remedies and the use that it is recommended for in dogs.  It would be great to hear evidence from you guys if any one of them have been used successfully. FB us with the info or leave a comment below!

Administering essences to your dog can be done in several ways.

Given by mouth, the easiest and most obvious way to do this is by putting the drops onto the food. The normal amount of drops would be 8 in the morning meal and 8 in the evening meal. You can add the drops to treats through out the day.

Adolescence

Adolescence in dogs starts around six months and may last up to eighteen months depending on the breed of dog.

Bach flower remedies to help:

Chestnut bud
For impulsiveness, youthful over exuberance and tending not to absorb training lesson.

Vine
For dealing with impulsiveness and rebelliousness

Walnut and Scleranthus
Used for changing hormonal levels as the dog grows, dealing with temperament.


Attention Seekers

There are many common problems related to attention seeking. The remedies will back up any training you are putting into place.

Bach Flower remedies to help:

Heather
This would be helpful for reducing a dogs cloying attention- seeking ways

Willow
If the dog appears resentful and moody

Vine
To help negate the dogs controlling behaviour


Bereavement

An animal can feel the feeling of loss or grief, dogs are also very affected by the grief of humans. A dog does not like it when a pack changes or acts odd.

Bach Flower remedies to help:

Star of Bethlehem
To help dogs recover from the shock of grief and loss

Gorse
To brighten the emotional state when broken hearted or giving up

Sweet Chestnut
To help bring light and upbeat to a darkened mood

Wild Rose
For dogs that have given up on life

Walnut
To give strength and resilience and to help move on


Emergency Situations

Emergency situations might be, being attacked, accident, serve fright, urgent medical treatment.

Bach Flower remedies to help:

Star of Bethlehem
To help dogs recover from the shock of grief and loss

Rescue remedy
The classic combination of 5 flowers to help in emergency situations. Star of Bethlehem, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum, and Impatiens


Fear and Anxiety

Fear and anxiety comes in all shapes and forms. The training basis need to be address however while in training these remedies will work along side.

Bach Flower remedies to help:

Mimulus
This address everyday, ongoing mild fears and panic.

Rock Rose
This is used for extreme fear or terror, used for tremble, cower or just freezing within animals.


Rescue Remedy

The classic combination of 5 flowers to help in emergency situations. Star of Bethlehem, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum, and Impatiens

Star of Bethlehem
To help dogs recover from the shock of grief and loss


Recuperation From an Illness

Bach Flower remedies to help:

Aspen
To help with unconscious fears and feelings

Impatiens
To help with stress and mental tension


Separation Anxiety

Bach Flower remedies to help:

Walnut
This remedy can build up a sense of emotional independence which is needed if he is to feel secure alone.


Source: :http://www.thenaturalpetpantry.co.uk/bach-flower-remedies-for-dogs

Coconut Oil

Handlers Becky and Micks black labs always have the most AMAZING sheen on their coats. When I asked her what was the secret, she said Coconut Oil! Have done a bit of research and here's the info...

Fed regularly to pets, coconut oil can have many health benefits - for their skin, digestive and immune systems, metabolic function, even their bone and brain health! Here are the top 10 reasons to add coconut oil to your dog's diet:

1. Coconut oil improves overall skin health, and clears up skin conditions such as eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis, and itchy skin.

2. Incredibly emollient, coconut oil helps moisturize the dryest K9 skin and makes a dog's coat gleam with health - whether you add it to her diet, her shampoo, or both!

3. Applied topically to the skin, coconut oil promotes the healing of cuts, wounds, hot spots, bites, and stings.

4. The antibacterial andantifungal properties of coconut oil help reduce doggy odor, and its pleasantly tropical aroma imparts a delightful scent to a dog's skin and coat.

5. Coconut oil prevents and treats yeast infections, including candida. Its antiviral agents also help dogs recover quickly from kennel cough.

6. Digestion and nutrient absorption are improved by the addition of coconut oil to a dog's diet. It can, however, cause stool to loosen

7. Coconut oil reduces - and sometimes eliminates - doggy breath. Some dog lovers even brush their pets' teeth with the stuff! Which makes sense, as dogs love the taste of coconut oil, and that makes the chore less arduous for brusher and brushee.

8. Like cinnamon, coconut oil helps prevent diabetes by regulating and balancing insulin. It also promotes normal thyroid function, and helps prevent infection and heart disease.

9.Helping to reduce weight and increase energy, coconut oil also promotes mobility in dogs with arthritis and other joint issues.

10. Again like cinnamon, coconut oil is excellent for brain health; it's being used to stave off dementia in humans, and it's a must to keep senior dogs' minds from becoming cloudy.


Ive just started my gang on it today! It's not the cheapest of products but with all these health benefits, it's gotta be worth the money.

Les x

Yellow Dog Campaign

Barking Mad Quiz Night

A review of sorts – Barking Mad Charity Quiz Night

On the evening of Saturday 6th April, Broom village hall was packed.  Just over one hundred of us, friends, villagers and customers of Barking Mad, turned out for quiz night.  The hall was set, and in we all trooped (with food and alcohol aplenty), for an evening of quizzical fun and fund raising.    

We were ‘Team Doggie Style' (aka Friday 12.30 class), and you might have noticed us industriously and quietly setting up our table; Burgeoning with champagne, vodka jelly, table confetti, Tia Maria profiteroles, candles, cocktails, and all manner of other luxurious party nibbles and other essential quiz team paraphernalia.  A quiet and unassuming bunch, we dressed in a befitting manner (tuxedos, suits, tweed and evening dresses) and chose a table near the back of the hall where we blended in inconspicuously. The scene was set and the quiz was on!  

All in, there were seventeen teams and the quiz kicked off with a picture round of 'name the celeb with a dog', followed by a written round of 'cat' related questions. Then there were a number of rounds of general knowledge and trivia covering all sorts of topics – from books, to sport and music.  Questions were asked and we even managed to answer a few (and with a modicum of success).  

The night was going well and the volume and high jinx got higher. The charity collection buckets were passed around, and the raffle was in such demand that tickets sold out before sales even got to our part of the hall! Some fantastic prizes had been donated and the tickets went like hot cakes.   A game of  'heads or tails' was played and the lucky winner bagged a cash prize.  (Alas, this was not me; I did manage to get down to the last three and can now conclude that standing on a chair at the front of the hall did nothing to aid my attempt to scoop the cash bounty.  I will employ better tactics next time)!

The atmosphere was good and the quiz rolled on to its end with ‘team Aguilera’ coming out on top (69 points).  Well done guys!  In second place were ‘team confused.com’ (66 points) and in third place ‘team 2Tired’ (65 points).  We,  ‘team Doggie Style’, came in 6^th, which isn’t half bad (all things considered).

All in all, a very successful and enjoyable evening; Big thanks to all the organisers, to Les for co-ordinating (and trying to keep some order), to all who donated raffle prizes, to those who helped setting up/clearing away - and to all who attended and took part.  We raised a total of £583.63 for a very worthy cause - St Johns Hospice in Moggerhanger.  A job well done and a great night out to boot!

Check out the photo's on the Barkingmaddts Broom Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/barkingmaddts.broom?fref=ts

You might just find a picture of your own smiling face posing reluctantly with a small yellow Easter Chick on your head!

Donna Armitage

‘Team Doggie Style’

Friday 12.30 Class

Agility Competition Results

The sun finally graced us with its presence after a long cold winter and what better way to celebrate than with a bit of healthy agility. We had a great turnout for our agility competition and all the owners and dogs put in a great performance.

There were no clear rounds so the result was decided on fewest faults and time. Huge congratulations to the winners Caroline and Reggie who completed the course in 42.4 seconds with just one fault. Reggie was also the oldest dog there so clearly putting his juniors in their place.

Second place went to Richard and Misty also with just the one fault and a time of 52.6 seconds, despite being distracted by a sneezing horse behind the hedge! A very close third place went to Maureen and Rusty with one fault in 54 seconds. Judith and Ruby were fourth with one fault in 55.8 seconds and in fifth place was Diane and Daisy with one fault in 59.4 seconds.

And here are the full results for all the competitors:

Owner Caroline	Dog Reggie	Faults 1	Time 42.4
Richard	Misty	1	52.6
Maureen	Rusty	1	54.0
Judith	Ruby	1	55.3
Diane	Daisy	1	59.4
Roy	Abbey	2	54.3
Shelagh	Chip	2	57.6
Barry	Barney	2	60.3
Lizzi	Charlie	2	61.0
Helen	Robbie	2	61.6
Nicky	Skye	2	NT
Jon	Brig	3	53.1
Shelagh	Orla	3	54.1
Jane	Biddy	3	56.3
Karen	Freckles	3	60.7
Bea	Biddy	3	61.1
Robert	Penny	3	61.8
Karen	Mabel	3	62.6
Roy	Jet	3	63.7
Shelagh	Mika	3	64.2
Gill	Buddy	3	NT