Tail Docking - Canine Osteopathy Sussex – Part 2

………Continued from

http://sussex-brighton-buzzin.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/tail-docking-dog-pain-sussex-part-1.htm

It has been made clear to breeders, vets and Sussex canine osteopaths that potential exemption from the current dog tail docking regulations would be made only for outdoor-related activities such as exercise or work (which accounted for 17.5% of the total injuries surveyed).  On this basis, around 2,800 puppies would have to be docked in order to protect the one working dog from tail injury.  It could be argued that the majority of working dogs do require (and deserve) a much greater degree of protection from injury and dog pain than animals that lead less active lives.  In principle we would agree with that.  This has to balanced against the consideration that working dogs are regularly placed in environments and situations where they are likely to hurt themselves, and the injuries are not limited to the tail.

http://www.canineosteopath.co.uk/

http://www.canineosteopath.co.uk/services/

The study refers to research by Houlton (2008)1, which details injuries sustained by working dogs including:

·         lacerations to the inguinal region.

·         abdomen face and ears.

·         puncture wounds including stake penetrations of the inguinal region, chest and pharynx.

·         foot injuries, lameness, elbow fractures, ligament injuries and sprains, internal injuries, nostril damage, eye injuries and tail injuries.

Sussex canine osteopaths assert that such a range of injuries shows the flawed logic of docking as means to prevent tail injuries.  It would be impossible to protect working dogs from such a wide range of injuries by cutting off parts of their bodies.

Canine Osteopaths in Sussex

When considering just tail injuries, the study found that working dogs were not, in fact, suffering significantly increased rates of injury.  It was other factors, including breed characteristics and general levels of activity were shown to be more important than the working activity itself.  Breed was found to be a major factor, with English springer spaniels, lurchers, greyhounds, cocker spaniels, and whippets all being noted as being at a much higher risk than labradors and other kinds of retrievers.

https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/FAQs/Pages/Frequently-asked-questions-about-canine-tail-docking.aspx

Of these, only spaniels are the only breed that is routinely docked.  An exemption for working dogs would not be of any help in providing extra protection for greyhounds, lurchers or whippets.  As spaniels have feathered tails, they were traditionally thought to have an increased risk of getting caught up in undergrowth.  However, such tangling can be avoided simply by trimming the dogs tail hair, as opposed to docking the tails of whole litters of puppies soon after birth.

There is a traditional view that puppies do not feel dog pain while their tails are being docked.  This is based mostly on observations from people observing the procedure who say the puppies don’t seem to react strongly.  There is, however, considerable scientific evidence that they do in fact suffer considerably. The faulty thinking comes from the way we expect dogs to react to stimuli in the same way that humans do.  We are coming to understand that dogs react to pain in ways that are not immediately obvious, but they are suffering nonetheless. The loss of the tail also affects the dog in other ways as it removes an important means of balance and communication.  This can have other impacts on the animal throughout its life that Sussex canine osteopaths could assess.

It is important to now have this authoritative study which finally confirms there is no compelling scientific or statistical argument in favour of tail docking.  There is now a growing movement that believes the matter is now settled for the argument about what is actually in the animals’ best interest.  
Following the publication of the report, it was telling that the Veterinary Record editorial focused not on whether working dog exemptions should be created in Scotland, but instead made argument about whether the current exemptions in England and Wales should be allowed to continue.

Modern Wood Burners Sussex Style

People have always burnt wood and wood burning stoves of one sort or another have been used in homes in places like Chichester, Worthing, Brighton and Sussex for a long time. Here we take a look at how such wood burners have evolved and been helping to heat homes and cook food throughout Sussex.

The Original Wood Burner - Campfires

Though they don’t really qualify as a Sussex wood-burning stove, campfires have been keeping in used Sussex towns like Brighton and Worthing for many thousands of years.

http://sussexecosolutions.co.uk/

Nowadays we mostly use campfires for when we out the great outdoors fun. 

The Open Fireplace

 Open fireplaces are always popular as they provide a really homely feeling and romantic atmosphere. They can be a pain to start, although practice makes it much easier.  They can be expensive to clean, and on occasions can be quite often smoky – so much so that some areas of Sussex can restrict the use of open fireplaces to curb pollution.

When it comes to heating the house, open fireplaces are actually quite inefficient because they have a habit of sucking warm air out of a room and sending it up the chimney. They’re also poor at converting the heat from wood burning in the hearth to move around the house.

In order to improve the efficiency of wood burning fireplaces, some people install an additional heat exchanger.

An Early Classic - The Franklin Wood Burning Stove

This type of wood burning stove has a U-shaped flue that draws the hot gases from the firebox into a hollow baffle. This heats up cool air that is drawn into the baffle, sending it out into the room through vents at the top of the stove.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/12008283/Furniture-fashion-this-seasons-hottest-log-burning-stoves.html

Potbelly Stoves

Cast-iron potbelly stoves are named after the round bulge in their mid.  They first appeared in homes around the 1860s and quickly became a standard wood burning stove in train stations, kitchens and hunting lodges throughout Sussex and Brighton.

Their great advantage was being a multi-fuel stove able to burn coal or wood, the fully enclosed firebox generates a lot of heat and many of the more modern models feature a flat cooking top so they can also be used to heat water and food.

Traditional Cook Stove

Early on in the nineteenth century stove manufacturers began experimenting with wood burning cooking stoves.  These designs reached their peak early in the twentieth century, with one of the popular models in the US came from the Canadian manufacturer the Findlay Bros.

With a large cast-iron hot surface and an enamelled oven, the stove cooked food, hearted up water, and warmed homes very efficiently for the time.  Though people are still using these old stoves they comment that they are burning a lot of wood.

The Masonry Stove

While potbelly and airtight stoves are most efficient when producing heat from long, gently smouldering fires, masonry stoves rely on faster burning, hot fires that burn much cleaner thereby producing far less emissions.

Airtight Wood Burning Stoves

The design of potbelly stoves meant they had leaky seams that let in so much air a fire could burn out in just a couple of hours, and then be cold within three or four hours.  The newer design of airtight wood burning stoves stay hotter for far longer by the use of openings to control the airflow, and thus the rate of burn.  Once the wood burning well, the openings can be closed off almost completely, allowing the hot embers to glow hot for eight hours or even more. But there is a downside to the slower burn – these wood burning stoves mean more smoke which is more polluting.

Modern Wood Burning Stoves Sussex

With the widespread concern about air pollution that developed at the end of the 20^th century, new designs were developed to reduce the wood burning stove emissions.   This led to a new range of stoves – highly efficient catalytic and non-catalytic airtight stoves that have now become increasingly popular, helping to eliminate emissions and increase heat transfer efficiency through the total combustion of the wood used as fuel.

Escape from the Hum Drum at Dog Friendly Pubs in Sussex

If you haven’t yet visited one of the many excellent dog friendly pubs in Sussex, you should be aware that you’re missing out one of the quintessentially British institutions.  A most pleasing aspect of life in these little slices of rural paradise is the fact they offer an ideal chance to totally get away from it all.  However hectic your life might seem at the moment, it’s good to know there is an oasis of peace and quiet just down the road, ready to help you forget the stresses and strains of everyday life.

For most of us, the pressures of work and domestic life do take their toll, which is why it is important to find that all important sanctuary.   A place to spend some quality time unwinding, taking the chance to get in the right frame of mind to face whatever the world will throw at us next.  There is something very therapeutic about time spent relaxing in dog friendly pubs in Sussex.  This is especially true when you’re in the mood for a few points of craft bees and some particularly tasty food.

 http://shepherdanddogpub.co.uk/

Dog Friendly Pubs in Sussex – Offering a Perfect Sanctuary

Good shopping centres abound in the south-east of England, offering succor to a large number of retail therapy fans over the weekends.  It doesn’t matter whether people are looking for the coolest designer labels, state of the art gadgets or even some new furniture for the home, they can always head over to the dog friendly pubs in Sussex to enjoy some much-needed recovery time. These are the times when all you need is a comfy chair, a relaxing atmosphere and some top quality refreshments.

On a sunny summer’s afternoon, a bit of al fresco dining in one of the dog friendly pubs in Sussex is always a welcome treat.  Many of these fine establishments are to be found nestled in some glorious countryside, offering diners plenty of spectacular views as they enjoy their meals.  While the sun is beating down and the feel-good factor in felt in abundance, you can forget all about the tensions and upset caused by those shopping trips.  Everyone deserves a chance to recharge the batteries of life, and the local country pub can be the ideal place to do just that.

Being Beside the Seaside with Cuckfield taxis

A classic day at the seaside is always enjoyable for family groups and it’s good to know Hassocks taxis are on hand to get you to the beach in style. So it seems a shame that while many people in Sussex are right on the doorstep of such a stunning coastline, one rightly regarded as iconic, yet they only occasionally venture south to enjoy the spectacular views, the tasty food and the kitschy souvenir shops.

Perhaps the most famous seaside destination in the south of England is Brighton.  This city is simply full of attractions for both the day and the evenings. It’s a location that attracts visitors from all over the world, and with help from Cuckfield taxis getting to this magnificent seaside resort is as easy as seeing someone in a kiss-me-quick hat and doing just that - kissing them quickly. It’s really is a piece of cake, which is hopefully followed by a stick of rock.

Hassocks taxis Get You Going With Ease

There are also many more outstanding destinations in Sussex, all of which can play host to a really good day out, including Worthing, the Victorian seaside resort with a great pier and a charming seafront.  Another great location is Peacehaven, the village just outside Brighton with incredible cliff-top views. And then there is Eastbourne, also another must-visit destination.  The best way to get to all the seaside resorts of Sussex is with Hassocks taxis and trains.

The coastline in Sussex is particularly popular in the summer but it has to be said it’s also very attractive in the winter. The skies may often be that bit greyer and the wind might blow more strongly, but this merely adds to the enjoyment.  The fact that there are fewer crowds also help to make the day out more enjoyable for everyone.

Bespoke Headboards Sussex

We all understand that there are times when an expert is just what we need. That’s why so many of us are keen to use the type of upholsterer Sussex can be proud of. These highly skilled craftsmen possess both traditional and modern skills and are extremely adept at creating superb pieces of furniture and upholstered items such as bespoke headboards.  They can also repair and renovate older pieces which are in need of some TLC, so its no wonder they are valued so highly.

In order to become such a highly regarded upholsterer in Sussex and Surrey you can’t simply buy a set of tools and hope the work comes flowing in. The best upholsterers in the will have developed their skills over many years, of course, and will have gained a prestigious qualifications and diplomas long the way.  So when a member of the public hands over a much-loved chair or headboard for renovation, for example, they are entrusting the expert to look after that piece or bespoke headboard from the first moment right through to completion of the job.

http://theupholsterermidhurst.co.uk/headboards/

The employment market in the UK has been in a state of slow-down over the last few years, but there are signs of a recovery beginning. This will hopefully continue for a while yet, and result in a wider choice and perhaps be a greater number of more interesting and rewarding vacancies for the job hunters out there.  This idea is supported by a number of influential people within the recruitment industry who feel confident that the jobs market is set to become much more vibrant and busy.

When it Comes to Finding an Upholsterer Sussex Home Owners Know Just Who To Call

There are far too many people in all parts of the UK who have jobs that can only be described as mind-numbingly dull. They make their way to their offices in the morning to face eight hours or more of boring, repetitive tasks, and then go home at the end of the shift feeling completely dispirited.  We all like to feel there is some value to what we so there are times when it seems all too difficult to cope with the on-going tedium.

This is rarely the case, however, for the type of upholsterer Sussex homeowners can rely on. For these highly skilled craftsmen, no two days are ever likely to be quite the same as there is so much variety in the tasks they undertake. One day they might be helping to create a bespoke headboard that matches the demands of a very fussy customer, while the next they may be carrying out a series of difficult and delicate repairs on a special antique armchair that has been in the family for many of generations.  This particular trade is all about variety and that’s why the best experts in the filed are always highly sought after.

So, if you own a piece of furniture that has possibly seen better days, you might be forgiven for thinking there is little that you can do about it.  But the truth is that the type of upholsterer Surrey has to offer may well be able to breathe a new lease of life into that special piece.  If you have never used a furniture specialist in the past, you may not be aware of just how skilful these craftsmen can be. Even if the item appears to be in a state that is beyond saving, their skills are often more than enough to breath new life into the piece and help restore its former glory.

Getting a job as an upholsterer ion the first place may not be that easy, however.  It is likely to involve a great deal of looking around as vacancies in this industry are no longer as common as they might have been in the past.  Needless to say, when a vacancy does occur it will probably to attract quite a number number of applicants. Workshop owners will be looking to either mould an eager youngster or perhaps find an experienced individual who already has all the relevant qualifications. The rewards for working in upholstery can be very attractive, but it’s not a sector in which everyone is able to earn a comfortable living.