Warm wishes to all of you and have a great 2012 from all of us at the NAC.

The Natural Animal Centre has just improved and expanded our guinea pig enclosure, take a look at what we did…

Here at the NAC we always strive to create the best possible compromise for our domestic animals.  Recently we renovated the guinea pig enclosure to ensure our three male guinea pigs Mickey, Sid and Spike have as much space, shelter and enrichment as we can provide.

A work in progress...

 Whilst Ross constructed a boundary fence and refurbished the hutch, Holly and Lauren got to work making the enclosure as interesting as possible, always referring to the guinea pig ethogram.  The rabbit warren was renovated so that the guinea pigs have access to tunnels, there are patches of long grass to eat and hide in, old dog beds turned up side down and branches to provide distributed shade and shelter.  They also now have safe access to the pond should they choose a natural water source over the bowls and bottles we provide.

We have also created enrichment inside the hutch, should they wish to spend more time inside than out.  Pipes to run in and out of, hay for browsing, warmth and hiding and various rocks and sticks for them to investigate and chew.  We have also ensured they have sole access to the hutch – they are nervous animals so having their own space where they can retreat to if they feel threatened will help them feel safer.

It is not just the guinea pigs who have benefited from this renovation.  The tortoises Tommy and Tara require as much natural light and heat as possible, and are going out  into the new enclosure daily – obviously depending on the Welsh weather!  Now they too have an improved enclosure with more space, shelter and natural food sources for them to investigate.

The finished enclosure.

The guinea pigs are being cautious and venturing out little by little.  In their previous enclosure Sid, Spike and Mickey took their time investigating the outside world but once they were out they stayed out!  Sid, shown in the picture below is more inquisitive than his hutch-mates and is approaching us outside in return for a food reward – his favourites being carrot and parsley.  We’ll keep you updated as the guinea pigs explore their new home!

Sid investigates freely and is rewarded for approaching us.

We are sure that you will join us in wishing Jonathan the very best for his new horticultural career, and thank him for the enormous value he has added during his time at the Natural Animal Centre.

Best wishes Jonathan, from all at the NAC

Lily-Rose

The first day she arrived she invited herself into our pack of dogs without so much as a growl (our dogs are not small!) and introduced herself to the cats and staff without a problem. But her behaviour was strange, she was obviously used to people, wanting to be picked up and sit on your knee, but cowering when they approached.  When our vet examined her, it became clear – Lily-Rose had almost certainly been used as a breeding dog in a puppy farm.

Her back end had been shaved, and her teats were distorted from years of over breeding. Although being approximately 8 years old, her teeth are worn flat, we’re presuming from chewing the bars of a cage she was kept in. Then we found out why she had probably been kicked out – a bladder stone the size of a golf ball had most likely resulted in her stopping breeding and caused the painful cystitis we’d been seeing.  When Lily went in to have her bladder stone removed, she was also spayed – turns out she had a collapsed uterus as well.

Lily-Rose's bladder stone was enormous.

Now Lily is healing from her operation, the most important thing we’re doing is teaching her how to be a dog again!  She’s learning how to ‘follow’ instead of being carried everywhere.  She’s being taken on walks to explore and play is also being encouraged.  Watching her and Nanuq chase each other around is highly amusing for all to see! Life on the farm has changed slightly too, we’ve had to ‘Lily-proof’ the fences, although she still manages to get under them.  Last week she met Melissa the pig and the goats, Jenny and Remy, by sneaking through small gaps we didn’t even know about.  She also sat on the tractor and supervised as we caught all the sheep to check them over.   She’s had such a transformation in the short few weeks that we’ve had her, her sweet personality is really showing through.    She’s come to the centre and won’t be leaving. Little Lily-Rose can live out her days as part of the NAC pack.

Lily-Rose and Nanuq play together, despite the size difference!

http://www.forestedgebandb-carmarthen.co.uk/

Join Lauren, our newest working student as she describes life at the NAC through a series of blogs and photographs.

As a new working student it’s amazing how my life has changed.  Having spent a month at the NAC studying for my Stage One Canine Behaviour Qualification in the Summer School, I decided this is where I want to be, and what I want to be doing full time. From working night shifts in a student shop, my life has turned upside down, most definitely for the better.

Puffin

Panda

I’m now out the door at 8am, after a substantial breakfast of porridge and thanking my car for starting when it’s cold, we can’t wait to get to the NAC.  We feed and check all the animals in morning yards, distributing whichever medication necessary, and of course deciding who should be rugged, kept in and let out etc as a result of the weather.

After bathing the tortoises, and during the morning break for a coffee we place importance on certain jobs to be done during the day, for example cleaning the rabbit hutch, poo-picking the barn or emptying the bins, then wrap up warm to complete said tasks.  Of course some jobs are more enticing that others, but we know they need to be done for a reason: it’s all for the animals.  There is always the added fun of wondering whether Terry the tractor will ignore the cold and start first, second or third time!

Having completed the essentials, and had a half decent lunch to keep us going through the day, we get to work with the animals.  There are currently several animals we are working with.  Specific Behaviour Modification Programmes have been devised for some animals, for example the goats Jenny and Remy are learning how to walk on a collar and lead, the pigs Melissa, Rosie and Heratio are learning to trailer load and the rabbits George, Tabitha, Sabrina and Roger, are learning to jump on our laps when asked.  There are also more generalised Behaviour Modification Programmes such as habituating the flock of sheep and the guinea pigs to recognise that people equal good.

sheep habituation

We are also given specific animals to work with.  Holly is currently working through the NAC Touch Acceptance Programme with Muffin the German Shepherd, so that we can clip her claws without it being stressful.  She is also working through the Positive Horse Magic Programme with Puffin the grey cob, developing groundwork skills and Puffin’s willingness to work with people in order to implement a weight-loss programme.  Currently I am working with Merlin, the Malamute dog, as we want him to be comfortable and calm whilst being groomed.  Merlin has a love of all types of food, so positive reinforcement works wonders, although encouraging him to be calm around food is somewhat more of a challenge, but we’re progressing well!  Beginning with the ‘sit-stay’ he’s learning and I leave every training session ecstatic that he’s learning a little more each time.  Soon I will begin working with Ross and Panda, a coloured cob, for my own Positive Horse Magic Training and I cannot wait!

Merlin Down Stay

Merlin Down Stay Next to Comb

As well as the informal training we receive, sometimes just by being around and observing the animals all day – I often wonder who’s training who – we also receive formal training in the form of our Behaviour Qualification.  Both Holly and I are studying for the Canine Qualification, but we both definitely want to expand and do the Equine, Feline and hopefully Small Animal Qualifications as well.  I also really want to do Bach Flower Remedies for Animals; it would be amazing to learn from Heather, who is one of the few qualified animal practitioners who can teach the course worldwide.  When I will find the time though is another matter, all I know is I want to learn as much as possible and the Natural Animal Centre is definitely the place to be for that to happen.

Holly and Merlin

Around half four we start on evening yards.  The animals again need to be fed, those necessary medicated, and the decision made as to whether who should stay in, or out, for the night.  After feeding and checking all of the NAC animals around five o’clock we head home and attempt to revise for the Behaviour Qualification we’re currently studying, some days are more productive than others!  Combined with the odd night out, and a really positive attitude to work (and play) it is truly a fantastic place to live and learn about animals and their Behaviour.

2 day animal conference 9th – 10th June 2011 (more info coming soon) :

Stage 1: 11th – 12th June 2011

Stage 2: 13th – 15th June 2011

Stage 3: 16th – 19th June 2011

Tell me more about the animal practitioner course

For more information please contact the NAC: Info@NaturalAnimalCentre.com

Stage 1: 19th & 20th January 2011

Stage 2: 21st – 23rd January 2011

Stage 3: 7th – 10th April 2011

Tell me more

To book your place contact the Natural Animal Centre on 01986 892196

Module 1    24th – 26th September 2010
Module 2    22nd – 24th October 2010
Module 3    19th – 21st November 2010
Module 4    7th – 9th January 2011
Module 5    11th – 13th February 2011
Module 6    25th – 27th March 2011
Module 7    15th – 17th April 2011
Module 8    20th – 22nd May 2011
Module 9    23rd – 26th June 2011

For our latest schedule for 2011 please visit our website: http://naturalanimalcentre.com/animal-behaviour.php

In November Heather will be in Sussex giving the first of a series of talks on 

Tuesday 9th November – Forrest Hall, East Sussex

Tell me more

To book your ticket call 01986 892196