Kate’s Companion Animal Care

05/11/2023

Update: I’m getting enquires for the following courses and would like to set dates for early next year if there’s any more interest? Please get in touch if you are interested to [email protected].

Level 2 Canine Care and Welfare
Level 3 Dog Walking and Pet Sitting for Professionals
Level 3 Dog Day care and Boarding

Many thanks!

Please share 🥰

I’m delighted to announce that I am now an approved Training Provider for iPet Network qualifications!

These are OFQUAL regulated canine related courses, including a Level 2 Canine Nutrition, Level 3 and 4 Canine First Aid, Level 3 Dog Walking and Sitting, Level 2 Puppy Socialisation and many more.

I will be running the courses in person in Essex. Please check out my new website for course details and how to get in touch to register an interest 😁

25/04/2023

Please note I am no longer offering dog walking or pet sitting services. Thank you 😊

13/07/2022

A nice little graphic for the school holidays 😌

Sounds like the perfect solution... kids itching to walk their new dog + over-stretched parents thrilled that their children are taking responsibility and lightening the workload! What's not to love?

Actually quite a LOT.

I can't tell you how many disappointed faces I see when I try to explain why a child walking a dog ALONE *might NOT be* the best idea for anyone!!?

And I get totally it.

If this is your first family dog, a quick spin around the block may look harmless enough - until you consider ALL of the things that can (and DO) go wrong.

Even (mentally and physically) FULLY-GROWN ADULTS get pulled down to the ground, or dragged over to squirrels, skateboards and the neighborhood cat. They accidentally drop leashes, or watch helplessly as their pup slips their collar. They struggle to control their dog around other dogs, or conversely, they panic or freeze when an off-leash dog comes sprinting full-speed towards them (friendly or not friendly.. who knows? They’ll likely find out when it’s too late!)

And this is ONLY a handful of the things that can happen to GROWN UPS… so for kids the stakes are simply exponentially higher.

As a trainer, I’m pretty calculated about where I go, and when I walk my dogs my radar is always activated. Even still, I’ve personally had to dash after my loose dog, I’ve been bitten by a dog who was attacking mine, I’ve seen a dog run over in a school parking lot, and watched a child be literally dragged for 50ft against her will!

So, I hope by sharing the potential risks with you, you can make informed choices about your family dog walking situation:

Here’s my hotlist of things to consider:

Size - of child and dog
Strength - of child and dog
Maturity - of child and dog
Training - of child and dog
Temperament - of child and dog

Then download, print and share our poster.
THESE are my questions to help families size up the COMBINATION of their dog and child to see whether WALKING ALONE together is a SMART call.

For more info for kids, dogs and making EVERYONE'S life SAFE and HAPPY - go to thefamilydog.com/families

07/07/2022

As a dog owner or temporary carer (including dog walkers) you have a duty of care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This duty of care means fulfilling their welfare needs which includes making sure they have a suitable diet and environment, that their behavioural needs are met and that they are not subjected to pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Some of the routine things we need to do are:

•Make sure they are not obese or underweight
•Give them constant access to clean fresh water
•Keep up to date with vaccinations, flea and worm treatments
•Keep them cool when it’s hot, and warm when it’s cold
•Get vet treatment when needed
•Get them regularly groomed if they are a breed that requires this, and brush others regularly
•Don’t leave them alone for prolonged periods (4 hours is around the maximum)

There are many more things we should be aware of in the attached, it is Defra’s Code of Practice for dog owners, it’s an easy read and very informative 😊

10/06/2022

A friend of mine was bitten by a dog last weekend at a large community event - he’s fine. The dog was apparently extremely stressed and had bitten someone else earlier that same day.

I have been thinking about the dog all week 😢 and how more people should be aware of the signs that their dogs are getting stressed. If these signs are observed we should be removing our dogs from the situation to stop it progressing.

The initial signs of stress are:

Nose licking
Yawning
Avoiding eye contact
Panting
Turning their head away
Lifting a paw

If the dog or the stressor is not removed then things can progress to aggression as you can see from the Ladder of Communication below.

Dogs whose signs are frequently ignored or are punished for showing them can stop displaying them and sometimes go straight to aggression and/or a bite.

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/canine-ladder-of-communication

10/05/2022

Saturday 4th June - dog show at Coggeshall Festival. Details below 🐕🐕‍🦺🦮🐶🐶

09/05/2022

Exhausting weekend of training new and upcoming dog walkers in how to start their dog walking business at Writtle University College.

Upcoming course dates for 2022 can be found on the link below, including Canine First Aid, Canine Behaviour for dog walkers, home boarders, day carers and Level 2 City and Guild Certificates in Dog Walking or Pet Sitting.

Watch out for new and exciting OFQUAL Regulated courses coming in September 🤩😬

Our courses are designed with employability in mind and we create innovative and relevant qualifications that meet employer needs.

13/01/2022

Those of you that provide licensed Home Boarding and Day Care services, these are the updated guidelines that will become effective on the 1st February 2022.

Here you will find the statutory legislation and relevant guidance relating to companion animal welfare. Please note the guidance is often reviewed and update by Defra – the latest review in February 2022 for which this documents are up to date. The Cat, Dog and Equine Welfare Codes are a useful t...

12/01/2022

Another chance to attend the Canine CPR and choking session but also a new session on bloat, heatstroke, seizures and much more!

Please contact Clare’s Canine Care to book 😁

🌟 Exciting news!!! 🌟

After a successful Canine First aid day back in November, me and Kate are delighted to be announcing a new date!

Saturday 26th March 2022
⭐️ 10am-12noon ⭐️
Second chance to learn and practice the basics of first aid including first response, CPR and how to deal with choking and stem bleeding.
⭐️ 2pm-4pm ⭐️
To cover bloat, heatstroke, seizures, embedded objects, poisonings, bites and stings, allergic reactions and shock

Taught by Kate from Kate’s Companion Animal Care, a lecturer in canine first aid from Writtle University College with a Level 4 in Emergency Canine First Aid.

Just £20 per session per person.

Venue: Clare’s Canine Care Salon, Market End

⭐️ Please message myself for more information and to book your place - limited spaces!⭐️