NEW RTE SHOW MADRAI HELPS Get bark to DOGS & STRUGGLING OWNERS basics..
Experts Ellen and Paula travel country fixing pooch problems
A NEW RTE show is aiming to help struggling dog owners with their problem pooches.
Whether it’s lead-pulling, separation anxiety or weight problems, vet Ellen Hegarty and dog behaviourist Paula Doohan have the answers.
In Madrai – the new six-part series – the duo travel around Ireland meeting frustrated owners and their canine rogues to solve behaviour and health issues.
The pandemic puppy boom saw a surge in people getting dogs. But now things have returned to normal, both dogs and their humans are struggling to adjust.
Dog rescue charities have gone from empty to full with surrendered pets and Dogs Trust says it has seen an 82% rise in the number of pets being surrendered.
At the end of last year the charity was receiving an average of eight calls and emails per day from people wanting to give up their pets.
Experts Ellen and Paula hope the tips they give will encourage owners to keep their dogs.
Ellen said: “When everything started to open up again and Covid started to dissipate, the shelters went from having no dogs to suddenly starting to fill up again.
“Some of the animal rescue charities started putting out a message to say you don’t have to surrender your pet.
“There are steps you can take and there are people there to support you to get things back on track.
“Maybe we could help spread that message and show people that it’s not all or nothing. You never have to feel ashamed if things aren’t going well. There’s no shame in asking for help.
“Some people, for whatever reason, feel they have to surrender their pets.
“Wouldn’t it be great to see if there are other options? Because I’m sure surrender was not the option anybody set out to do when they got their little dog.”
And so, the canine experts are tackling the behaviour and health problems that might lead people to give up their dog.
Paula has more than 20 years’ experience in helping owners and says the most common problem is pulling on the lead.
She said: “I think it’s hilarious. I just giggle when I see someone being taken for a walk by their dog. I think, who’s leading who? Dogs pull because humans follow. Stand your ground.
You never have to feel ashamed if things not going well ELLEN HEGARTY MADRAI VET
Don’t go anywhere. The dog will either sit and look up at you or it’ll just stop pulling. You might only get a couple of steps at a time but you have to start from scratch.
“You’ve let the dog run amock and now all of a sudden you expect it to stop pulling. I have to undo months or years of human error.”
That is exactly what she had to do with Fred and his human Siobhan. When Paula met the pair, Fred – a large German Shepherd-retriever cross – was joyfully pulling Siobhan through Bray, dragging her in and out of every gate they passed and lunging at every dog they met.
On one occasion he pulled his owner into traffic. Siobhan was at her wits’ end. But with some basic training tips, Fred learned that Siobhan was in charge and he got to move only when she allowed it.
Within a few hours, Fred was happily walking beside Siobhan’s leg as she held his lead loosely in one hand.
Going for walks quickly evolved from a dreaded chore to an enjoyable stroll. But not all doggie dilemmas are
purely behavioural. For some, underlying health issues may be fuelling the behavioural problems, which was the case with 10-year-old Bijon-russell Bailey.
Bailey is a bark-aholic and according to his owner Trish, is full of devilment.
He wakes the house at 6am every day with his yapping and for the rest of the day he barks at anything that passes the window. He didn’t like
going for walks anymore and had started to develop an obesity problem.
Vet Ellen, who has treated everything from koalas to cows, felt the steroid medications he was receiving to treat his skin allergies may have been driving the problems. Small fluffy white dogs can often develop skin problems and end up on steroids.
Ellen said: “Steroids are brilliant. They are an amazing drug but they
carry some pretty heavy side effects, like increased drinking, increased eating, weight gain and muscle weakness.
“That’s why Bailey had this huge belly. So we started talking about alternative treatments we could try.”
On new medication, Bailey’s barking improved and he was soon back enjoying walks with Trish.
Ellen strongly encourages anyone who is thinking of getting a dog to do their research on the breed because some are prone to serious and costly health conditions.
Some breeds are prone to heart disease, others have skin issues while flat-faced breeds like pugs and French bulldogs, can be prone to serious breathing problems. Ellen said: “Really try to educate yourself if you are going for one of these breeds. Think about the problems some of them may have in the future.
“That’s where adoptions are great. At a charity, typically you get a mix of breeds in one dog and they can often be more likely to stay healthy.”
If you have doggie dilemmas of your own or you’re simply a dog lover, Madrai will bring a bundle of laughs and some top tips for keeping your pooch happy and health.
Madrai starts tonight on RTE One at 8pm.
I then undo months or years of human error
PAULA DOOHAN MADRAI DOG BEHVIOURIST