None of us want our dogs to be stressed – there is nothing worse than seeing them anxious and unhappy as they hide from a noise that they cannot control. The normal scenario for our dogs is to respond to noises that they can react to and this forms part of their routine such as the doorbell going where they bark happily to alert us and feel like they have played their role in protecting us from strangers at the family door.
When the noises are erratic and unexpected, there is no control and this results in extreme stress in our more sensitive dogs. Like many of us, our dogs are natural empaths with acutely sensitive reactions to loud noises, friction in the home, a change in routine. It is so important that we do not fuss them and stroke them when the fireworks and noise starts. (Yes I find it as hard as you do to ignore our little Ruff at this time)
They will sponge all our emotions as they normally do and react with even more anxiety if they pick up our stress through us constantly stroking and trying to reassure them. Far more helpful is to let them choose where to hide and allow them to find a safe den where they can deal with their own feelings of anxiety instead of taking on ours too.
Dr Marc Abrahams MBE (a wonderful advocate of plant-based feeding of our pets in the UK) gives us some advice in the video below on how to build a den.
Kindness, Courage and Resourcefulness
What I learnt at Vegan Campout with my family
Bruno the Bernese has outlived all his litter mates!
Do you know that Bruno is 11 years old now and he has outlived all of his littermates on his vegan diet!
Pax had remarkable changes going from raw to plant-based
Once transitioned to plant-based her itching stopped, the hotspots went, her ears don’t smell anymore and she gets no more tear-staining!
Top vets are choosing plant-based for their own dogs!
Vet specialist cardiologists, oncologists and dermatologists feed their own dogs Solo Vegetal!
“Just feel his muscles!”
Solo Vegetal gives vegan Vizsla Loki his amazing physique that his Mum uses to promote plant-based feeding of dogs!
Choose vegan when travelling with your pet
EU rules mean that you cannot cross the channel with any meat-based dog food, only plant-based!
Vegan Vet on Channel 5 TV!
A crazy experiment on Channel 5 proves that vegan dog poo has no smell as Alexis Conran and vet Arielle Griffiths put it to the test!
The goodness of Leni from Vegan4Dogs
What an inspiration she is and is proof of the power of good individuals making a difference!
My childhood dogs all died of kidney disease
They were fed a very high meat-based diet full of offal everyday!
What positivity to hear about Game Changers 2
A personal dream come true would be Lewis Hamilton talking on TV about how a vegan diet has impacted so positively on the health of his adored Bulldog Roscoe!
Vegan Dog Nutrition added to MSc Programme
Glasgow Vet School asked if they could add a section to the MSc Nutrition Programme about Vegan Dog Nutrition!
Bruno’s leg rash is solved at last
None of the vets we saw ever suggested that he might have a meat protein allergy