Animal charity tackles dog's fear of walks
A border collie-cross named Lucy underwent therapy to combat her fear of going for walks, and has since lost nearly three stone thanks to all the extra exercise.
Three-year-old Lucy was given up for adoption after her owners could not cope with an obese dog, however, the underlying cause was that Lucy had a fear of open spaces, and was too scared to go outside for walks.
Blue Cross took Lucy in and its staff addressed both her weight and nervous behaviour straight away. The 5st 3lb (33kg) dog was put on a strict diet, exercise programme and training programme.
The charity's Animal Behaviourist Claire Stallard said part of the problem was that Lucy was not properly socialised as a young dog, which left her with a huge fear of going outside as she did not feel safe on walks. As a result, she gained too much weight.
After her therapy, Lucy has slimmed down to 2st 9lb (16kg), and found a home with new owners Nick and Sarah Valleley.
"It's amazing how she has changed," said Sarah. "One of the trainers said to us that a tired dog is a happy dog - and she was right. Lucy is a lot happier now as she can run; it means she is also a lot calmer around the house."
Lucy needs to loose just two more pounds to reach her target weight.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
