FEATURES APPROPRIATE PUPPY PLAY Puppies need much less exercise than fully grown adult dogs. You don’t want to overtire them as they are more prone to ‘bitey’ land shark moments or get up to more mischief! Safe play and exercise are essential for your puppy as their growth plates gradually close. These are the soft areas of cartilage that sit at the ends of the long bones and this closing process (endochondral ossification) is usually completed by the time your puppy is between approximately 12 and 18 months old. Until this time, your puppy is vulnerable to injury, their joints and bones can be easily damaged and this could cause the early onset of arthritis and/or degenerative joint disease. DO; • Pick your puppy’s play partners carefully when out at the park/beach. The last thing you want is for your puppy to have a negative rough interaction in this critical socialisation period as this could cause your pup to be fearful as an adult. • Be proactive, carry out a consent test. This is helpful for making sure both parties, whatever their age, are enjoying themselves. The more forward boisterous puppy is restrained for a few seconds. If the other puppy goes towards them and offers play signals, then it’s fine for the restrained puppy to be allowed to continue the play session. If the other puppy ambles off to sniff or explore away from the restrained one, then encourage both puppies to do their own exploring away from each other or play with a toy with their own guardians. • Practice your recall cue and playing with you when you’re around other dogs. • Look out for a ‘shake off’. This is where a puppy shakes their entire body when not wet, and happens when the puppy wants to calm down. It’s shaking off a bit of a stress in a positive way and the play partner will probably mirror this. If they don’t, then perform a consent test. DON’T; • Let your puppy play, or even meet other dogs all of the time, this can build up frustration pretty quickly. • Go to Puppy Parties or Socialisation Groups unless they’re run in a controlled manner. All of your puppy’s interactions should be short positive ones, NOT a free for all at this impressionable age. Puppies do not teach other puppies good manners! You want quality meetings, not quantity. Julie Williams APDT IMDT South Wales Dog Training Academy.
Deadline date for the February issue is: SATURDAY 15TH JANUARY 42 | seaside news
BRIDGEND ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY #BAS40
Last November, Bridgend Astronomical Society celebrated its 40th Anniversary! The milestone occasion was celebrated with a dinner and talk event with members at The Heronston Hotel & Spa. It was a glorious evening made even more special by the attendance of all three of the society’s founder members, Laurie Brophy, Frank Morris and Joan Hawkins. The society has gone from strength to strength in recent years and is currently enjoying its special anniversary season, dubbed #BAS40, with a packed schedule of talks, events and short courses! BAS encourages everyone who has a curious wonderment for the night sky and the universe around us to come and join! Everyone is welcome, especially juniors and families! For the first meeting of 2022, BAS welcomes back society friend and Cardiff Astronomical Society Chairman, Phill Wallace FRAS. Phill will deliver a talk about ‘The Perils of Time Travel!’ Members will have the opportunity for Q&A as well as enjoy our education slot and night sky round up for the month. Wednesday 19th January 7:30pm, Bridgend Tennis & Bowls Club Contact: secretary@bridgendastro.org.uk Find us on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter www.bridgendastro.org.uk
THROUGH CHRISTIAN EYES Well folks, here we are again – the beginning of a new year! I am sure, like me, you are hoping for a better year this year! As we look forward to the New Year, I imagine we will have all sorts of fresh ideas and New Year’s resolutions. I can only speak from personal experience that any New Year’s resolution I have made over the years has been totally trumped by a new life in Jesus. At least for the reason of how God promises to strengthen and sustain us through the pressures of life, as we look to him in faith - and I think it’s safe to say, we could all do with some supernatural strength to keep facing life’s issues. But there is so much more. As they say, “the benefits of knowing God are out of this world”. God is good and full of love! In fact, you will not hear about this on the news, but many people in the world (particularly in the near east) are turning to Jesus for a new start, as he appears to them in dreams. It’s a bold statement but I believe that turning to Jesus in humility is the answer for all the problems of humanity! NEIL HARVEY Through Christian Eyes
