Businesses on Harrogate’s Commercial Street are to host a dog-friendly day a week on Saturday.

The street initiative will see shops put matching water bowls outside to show they are dog-friendly and some local pet-related businesses will run stalls throughout the day.

From 10:30 until 3:30, businesses, including The Harrogate Vet, Peach and Pooch and Miss Mollie’s Rescue will have stalls on the street.

They will offer goods such as dog treats and goodie bags and host competitions for people to take part in.

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The event will take place the day after national Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 25.

Commercial Street is home to over 22 independent businesses, with 20 being members of the retailer group that organises community events.

Organisers will soon be placing dog-friendly logos against businesses on its website so people can see the full list of participants.

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly profile of Harrogate animals in desperate need of a loving home. Could you help Ernie, Toby, or Amber? 

Ernie

Age: Ernie’s passport says he is eight, but he could be older.

Ernie’s story: Ernie arrived at Miss Mollie’s Rescue from Romania, about five weeks ago. The team at Miss Mollie’s think he had a hard life before being rescued. He is stiff on his legs and has a nasty scar on his face, but since arriving in Harrogate he has been taking joint tablets and is improving every day.

Temperament: Ernie shares his kennel with another dog, and likes being around dogs. He has started enjoying walks but his favourite things are rolling in the grass, sitting in the sun, his dinner and his bed.

Ideal home: Ernie would be well suited to an owner who is happy to have short walks. He would love to have a garden and a cosy place to chill out.

If your family has space for Ernie, contact Miss Mollie’s Rescue. 

Toby

Age: 16.

Toby’s backstory: Toby is looking for a long-term foster home. He is currently living alone at Harrogate Cat Rescue, after his owners became unable to look after him. Toby isn’t in the best of health and is suffering from liver disease. He is stable on antibiotics.

Temperament: Toby is an affectionate, laid-back boy. He loves nothing more than sitting on your knee, or watching the world go by from a sunny window ledge.

Ideal home: Toby will benefit from regular, gentle brushing and companionship. All his food and veterinary treatment will continue to be paid for by Harrogate Cat Rescue.

If you could be a foster carer for Toby, contact Celia at Harrogate Cat Rescue on 07749 461042.

Amber

Age: Three.

Amber’s story: This labrador cross lurcher’s previous owners lost their home in a fire and could not take her (and her sister Jade) to where they were staying.

Temperament: Amber is incredibly friendly and energetic. She can be bouncy and excitable when she is playing, so will benefit from someone taking the time to train her and take her on lots of walks.

Ideal home: Amber loves to chase small, fluffy things, so needs a secure garden (where she can’t run off chasing rabbits) and a home with no cats. Because Amber is so energetic, she needs to live with adults and older children. She can live with another dog that is happy to be around her lively personality.

If Amber could be the perfect fit in your home, visit Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs. 

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This column is written for the Stray Ferret by Kimberley Metcalfe. Kimberley has an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Her company Pooches Galore is based in Harrogate and specialises in dog training and resolving canine behavioural problems.

I’m not sure if it is a consequence of the severe restrictions we have been living under with our dogs, the increase in the number of dogs on walks, lack of socialisation or something else altogether: but I am seeing more and more reactive dogs.

Reactivity is a bit of a catch all term we use for dogs who bark, lunge, and even bite at other dogs or people. I normally see it come from a place of fear or uncertainty. And one thing we know is that the last year has been uncertain for us – and I’m sure it has also been uncertain for our dogs.

We have spent a year keeping our distance from others and we might even have tightened up on the lead to move them out of the way, which has meant that our dogs have also kept their distance from others. Many dogs will be fine with this and will bounce back with no problems at all. However, many dogs will have picked up on this and will have developed some anxiety in certain situations.

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Reactivity normally comes from a place of fear, with the dog’s behaviour escalating gradually resulting in barking and lunging at dogs or people. Normally the dog’s behaviour begins with very subtle signs, often so subtle you have to be really looking for them to notice. These behaviours include lip licking, yawning, scratching at the collar – see how subtle they are?

Because they are so subtle, they are often missed. When they are missed or ignored, the dog then has to increase their behaviour to make the signs more obvious. Eventually the dog has to continually increase the intensity of their body language until they reach barking, growling, lunging – and even biting. These much more obvious signs almost always work to remove the threat.

When we work with dogs who are stressed in different situations, we need to look closely at behaviours they offer us from a distance to help them feel more secure and that the other dogs or people are not a threat to them. Ultimately, we need to change their underlying emotions when they see their trigger, from a place of fear, anxiety or uncertainly, instead teaching the dog that good things happen. The trigger predicts something good!

There is a very subtle art to this science, and timing and distance is everything. If your dog is struggling, please reach out: we can help you to have a happier life with your dog.

This column is written for the Stray Ferret by Kimberley Metcalfe. Kimberley has an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Her company Pooches Galore is based in Harrogate and specialises in dog training and resolving canine behavioural problems.

There has been so much in the media recently regarding the rise of dog thefts, and the fear of dog thefts has been a hot topic across all social media for a few months now.

Many dog owners have been taking extra precautions to keep their dogs safe. This rise may be in part due to the huge increase in the number of people taking on a dog during the lockdowns of the past year – The Kennel Club reported a 168% increase in people searching for puppies from the start of lockdown compared to 2019! This huge boom has led to dogs selling for more and more, so it is perhaps unsurprising that thefts have seen a double-digit increase compared to the year before.

When I asked my Instagram followers if they were concerned about this increase in dog thefts and what they were doing to keep themselves and their dog safe. I was almost overwhelmed by how worried people were about their dog being stolen and the steps people were taking to keep their dog safe.

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The police and the RSPCA suggest measures that people can take to keep their dogs safe. These include:

• Neutering your dog or telling people that your dog is neutered.
• Ensuring their microchip details are up to date.
• Not putting their name on the collar, but making sure your phone number and address is on the collar.
• Not leaving them alone outside shops or in the garden.
• Being wary of people who take too much interest in your dog.
• Varying your walking route and patterns.
• If you post about your dog on social media, not uploading your location while you are there.

If your dog is stolen you need to immediately notify your microchip database and inform the police. Send your dog’s details to DogLost and Animal Search UK and post all over social media to raise awareness. If you think your dog is lost, retrace your steps, inform the local dog warden, and speak to people on your walks to see if anyone has seen your dog.

Please remember that although the numbers of dog thefts have been on the rise, such crimes are still rare and the chances of your dog being lost or stolen are slim.