Dog Safety at Easter

Hmmm, Béibhinn the Education Dog wonders if she should chow down on a delicious Easter egg.  Don't do it Béibhinn!  While a sweet treat can be enjoyed every once and a while by us humans, chocolate is extremely dangerous for dogs. Here's why ...

 

• Many people are unaware that chocolate is poisonous to dogs.
• Chocolate makes dogs extremely sick and may even kill them.
• Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is safe for humans but not safe for dogs.
• The darker the chocolate, the more poisonous it is for you doggy pal.
• As a rough guide, Dogs Trust estimates that 50g of plain chocolate could be enough to kill a small dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier, while just 400g could be enough to kill an average size dog.

 So that everyone can have an egg-cellent Easter, remember these rules to keep your dog safe:

 

• Keep your chocolate in a safe place so your dog can't get to it.

• NEVER feed your dog chocolate meant for humans.

• If your Easter egg is missing and you think your dog may have stolen it, contact your vet straight away.

• Look out for any of the following symptoms; vomiting with blood, a sore tummy, extreme thirst, excitability, drooling, rapid heart rate and in severe cases, fits.

• If your dog is displaying any of these signs then take him immediately to your vet.

• The sooner your dog gets to a vet, the greater the chance of recovery from chocolate poisoning.

• If you want to treat your dog this Easter, stick to natural doggy snacks that are kinder to your canine.

 

The Education Team would like to wish everybody a Yappy Easter! xxx

Education Team - Dogs and Blogs



Did you know that the schools we visit often write about our workshops on their school blogs and websites?  The Education Team would like to thank all of the schools and students who have taken the time to write and share their experiences of a visit from Dogs Trust on the world wide web!  Here is just a selection of some of our favourite school websites: 
 
 
Fiona and Jake - Dublin and Eastern Education Team:
 

• http://stops.scoilnet.ie/blog/?p=1922
• http://ashbourneetns.ie/?m=201402
• http://maryhelpofchristians.ie/node/182

Deirdre, Sadhbh and Cónán - South East Education Team:

• http://duallans.scoilnet.ie/blog/?s=dogs+trust
• http://tinrylandns.ie/school-news/index.php/ms-meaney/dogs-trust-visit
• http://www.gaelscoilau.ie/ocaidi/13-14/dogs.htm

Aoife and Brave - South West Munster Education Team:

• http://desertsergesns.com/2013/11/25/the-dogs-trust/
• http://stpatricksgirls.net/?p=191
• http://www.clondulanens.org/?p=508

PS:  To find out if your school or organisation could have a FREE visit from a Dogs Trust Education Team, please contact education@dogstrust.ie.

A report from Davy in 3rd Class

 

South West Education Officer Aoife and her Education Dog Brave paid a lovely visit to Scoil Eoin Naofa in Cork. A little boy from 3rd class called Davy came to Aoife at the end of the day to show her a report he had written after the workshop. Both his teacher and Aoife were so impressed with his beautiful handwriting and how carefully he had written up his report. Davy had remembered all the key Safety messages Aoife and Brave had taught the pupils during her visit.   Aoife made it clear that we must never approach a dog who is on his own.  However, when we are meeting a dog who is with his owner, we should use the WALT method: Walk slowly over to the owner, Ask the Owner, Let the dog sniff you, Touch the dog gently.

 

A huge thank you to Davy for letting us share his brilliant report on the blog and to all the pupils and staff at Scoil Eoin Naofa who were so kind and welcoming to Aoife and Brave.

Education Dogs Strike A Pose!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

The Education Dogs recently had their very own ‘photoshoot’ at Dogs Trust. The results will be used on our brand new Education stand for when the Education Team attends events around Ireland and in our new school flyers promoting our FREE Educational Workshops in primary schools. Whoever said you should never work with animals has obviously never worked with our professional canines! Jake, Sadhbh, Cónán and Béibhinn were ready for their close-ups – with the help of a few tasty hotdogs of course! These photographs were taken by our talented South West Education Officer, Aoife de Búrca.

 

A visit to Scoil Chroí Íosa in Blarney, Co. Cork

This week South West Education Officer Aoife and her dog Brave went to visit a fantastic school called Scoil Chroí Íosa in the lovely village of Blarney in Cork. The students and staff were so kind and welcoming and Aoife and Brave really enjoyed their time in the school.

Brave was so happy in the school he didn't want to leave! This was probably because all the children were really gentle and made him feel really at home, helping to make sure he had fresh water and toys to play with.  Aoife's visit focused on Safety around dogs we know and dogs we don't know, and the children learned lots of new information about our furry friends.

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much to Scoil Chroí Íosa for sharing these photos from the school blog.  You can read their article about the visit here:

 

http://www.scins.ie/index.php/school-blog.html

One Brave Education Dog

We thought you might like to know a bit more about our new South West Education Dog Brave the Greyhound, one of the most courageous dogs to have ever stepped foot in Dogs Trust. This September Dogs Trust hired a new Education Officer called Aoife. Aoife met Brave and it was love at first sight for both of them! Brave not only got a wonderful new home but he also got a job! Now that he has completed his training Brave is going to schools with Aoife in the South West Munster area teaching the dog owners of tomorrow how to be kind, caring and responsible owners. Here is Brave’s story in his own words:

 

 

　

Brave Before:

  

I was found chained to the fence at Dogs Trust in the middle of the night. I was so frightened, scared and cold as I watched my owner drive off and leave me. My front paw was badly broken. My owner had tried to use masking tape to fix it but it only made things worse. I was in so much pain and had lots of other old injuries that had never been treated properly. 

A nice man and woman at Dogs Trust quickly untied me, wrapped me in a big cosy duvet and whisked me straight to the vets. It was lovely to have someone care for me. I’d never had that before and I nuzzled in for cuddles on the drive. The vets ran all sorts of tests on me. I have a complicated joint problem in my ankle and wrist and a few small tumours. The vet managed to straighten out my front paw, it feels better already and they operated on the tumours too. 

I am going to need a very expensive surgery to my back leg in a few weeks time, I’m nervous but I know I’m in good hands. In a few more months my bones and scars will heal and in time so will my heart. Dogs Trust will love and care for me and in time find me a new forever home and for that I am one grateful Greyhound.

Love and hearts,

Brave xxx

　

Brave After:

 

 

 

Life is going great in my new home! I’m so happy. My favourite things are sleeping, hugs and meeting new people. At first I really didn’t like going out after dark but it’s not so bad now, I feel stronger and more confident every day.

I’ve got lots of training tips from Deirdre and Fiona, the other Education Officers about visiting schools and I’m really excited to be visiting so many lovely children. Aoife and I are getting to know each other really well too and I am learning lots of things 'As Gaeilge', just like the children in the school we meet!

Sometimes I miss the staff at Dogs Trust but I’m out exploring the world and in such a nice home. I haven’t had the best start in life but things are finally looking up for me. I love going to school and teaching children how to treat dogs properly, so no more dogs have to suffer the way I did.

Love and hearts,

Brave xxx

　

A visit to Clareville Montessori in Carlow

South East Education Officer, Deirdre, went to visit the lovely Clareville Montessori in Carlow last week. She brought a bag of lots of different things that a dog needs and all the children had a wonderful time picking things out of the bag and learning how to look after dogs. The children helped put out the bed for Sadhbh and Conan and make sure they had water in their bowl.

 

Then it was time to meet the Education Dogs! The children listened carefully about how to be calm and gentle around dogs and one by one they came up to the dogs, let the dogs smell their safe hand and gave the dogs a rub. It was great fun! Some children were a little nervous of dogs but Sadhbh and Conan are so friendly that they were able to come up and say hello and everyone understood how important it is to always ask the owner before you meet a dog.

The South Eastern team really enjoyed visiting this great crèche because the staff were all so kind and welcoming.