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Raising happy dachshunds, a heart-to-heart with sausage dog specialist Nicky Hammel
Episode 1516th May 2025 • The Yappy Hour • Yappily
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Decoding the Dachshund | Yappy Hour Podcast with Nicky Hammel

Welcome to The Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily – the podcast for dog lovers who want to deepen their bond with their four-legged friends. In this episode, host Nathan Dunleavy chats with Nicky Hammel, a licensed breeder and behaviourist specialising in long-haired dachshunds.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • How to read and understand dachshund behaviour
  • Common behavioural challenges and how to tackle them
  • The truth about dachshunds' "stubborn" reputation
  • Why responsible breeding is crucial and what to look for in a breeder
  • Managing barking, reactivity, and separation anxiety
  • Tips for raising a well-adjusted dachshund from puppyhood to adolescence
  • Essential health considerations like IVDD and PRA


Listen to more episodes on The Yappy Hour Pod Page

If you enjoyed this episode, hit the like button, share it with a fellow dog lover, and subscribe to The Yappy Hour to never miss an update.

Transcripts

Speaker:

Welcome to the Yappy Hour, powered by

Yappily the podcast for dog lovers who

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:

want to better understand and connect

with their four legged companions.

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:

I'm your host, Nathan Dunleavy, and today

we are diving deep into one of the UK's

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most iconic and entertaining breeds.

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The d.

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Joining me is Nicky Hammel a

behaviourist and licensed breeder who

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specializes in long hair, dachshunds.

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In this episode we'll talk about

what makes this breed so unique, the

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common behavioural challenges pet

parents face, and how to raise a happy,

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healthy, and confident sausage dog.

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Whether you've just bought a puppy home or

you are living with a feisty middle aged

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:

sausage, this episode will be for you.

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We'll also bust a few myths, share

some practical tips, and reflect on

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why working with your dog's natural

traits, not against them is the secret

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to building a long lasting bond.

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So grab a cup of tea, settle

in, and let's get started.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Welcome back to The Yappy

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Hour, powered by Yappily.

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I'm your host, Nathan Dunleavy, and

I'm so excited to bring you another

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episode today, even more excited

that we've got Nicky Hammel with us.

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Welcome, Nicky.

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I.

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Thanks for being on the yappy hour.

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Nicky's actually a really good friend

of mine, so it is just gonna be like

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having two friends, just having a chat

about our favorite things, which is dogs

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or in Nicky's case, Dashan or Dashan.

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I don't gotta pronounce it properly

now 'cause I can never spell

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Dashan, but I struggle saying it

sometimes as well, so, brilliant.

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So Nicky, welcome to the Yappy Hour.

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I'm so excited to have you.

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Thanks for joining us.

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How's everything going in

your world at the moment?

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Nicky Hammel: Yeah, really,

really good actually.

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Really good dog's.

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All well, dog's all happy.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: yeah, really, really good.

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Really good.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Perfect.

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So tell us a little bit

about how you came to work.

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So closely with this iconic little breed

and what sparked your love for dash outs.

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Nicky Hammel: Well, it's, it's

quite a long story actually, so.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: We love

a long story, so you fill your boots.

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Nicky Hammel: so in my previous job

I worked for a high street bank as a

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mortgage advisor and a really, really

good friend of mine bought an accent.

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the more time I sort of spent with

him and with her, it, it just, the

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breed just kind of got me really.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: I'd wanted one for quite

a while before I got my first one.

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It actually took me, I think

about a year to persuade my

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husband to let me have a dog.

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and yeah, that's how, it's just, just

kind of escalated from there really.

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And I became unhappy in my

job at the bank and, you know,

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sort of wanted a way out of it.

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So initially we kind of decided

that we would set up our own

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home boarding and daycare service

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's right.

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Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: we really wanted to

sort of nail down and specialize

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in Dexon because they are, they can

be a funny little breed and they

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really, really love their own breed.

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Not always comfortable around larger dogs.

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So we wanted

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Right.

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Nicky Hammel: of, in our search

for, for a service for ourselves, we

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wanted to kind of create something

that other people could enjoy.

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I mean, there were a few

services around like that,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: Not all that many.

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So that's kind of where we started.

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And then as lockdown

happened, you know, that had a

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: impact on the business.

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So I then kind of took that

time retrain as a behaviourist,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

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Yes,

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Nicky Hammel: decided to kind

of step away from that a little

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bit and then move into breeding.

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So,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yes.

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And that's where you are now.

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So you are still doing a bit

of behaviour work, aren't you?

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Nicky Hammel: A little bit here and

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: my primary focus

really is, is on my breeding program.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Is the breed in?

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Yeah.

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So you did sort of specialize

in, so I have said it wrong, so

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I'm saying dash sound, but you've

said D Sound, so is it D Sound?

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Nicky Hammel: DAXs hun.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: D

so I wanna make sure I say it right.

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So DD, it's a bit of a

German, German word, isn't it?

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It's a funny word.

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Nicky Hammel: a German word.

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Yeah, translated.

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So the translation from English

to German is Badger Dog, which

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Ah, I never knew that.

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Nicky Hammel: bred to.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

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Okay, so I'm finally gonna say it

wrong all throughout this episode

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now, but I'm glad I double checked.

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So, yeah, great.

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So similar journey to me.

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I worked in the bank and then

obviously started off dog walking.

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Lockdown hit, had to shut down my

business for a couple of weeks, and

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then I retrained in, in lockdown

as a dog trainer and specifically

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separation anxiety specialist.

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Yeah, so haven't gone the full hog of you.

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As being a licensed breeder, but did do

a little bit of hobby breeding, hence why

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I've now got four, two po, two poodles.

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So we love the little dogs.

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And yeah, it's great.

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So we're gonna be moving on to

our next section now which is all

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about getting to know the breed.

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So what makes a dash

a sound, a duck sound.

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I'm still struggling with that

word and I should have mentioned at

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the start of this episode as well

that Nicky is another one of our.

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Breed specialists or breed experts.

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So we've had a few different breed

experts on so it's really great

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that we're gonna be delving more

into this fantastic little breed.

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So for those listening, for our

listeners who don't know the breed that

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well, how would you describe a typical

dexon in personality and temperament?

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Nicky Hammel: Personality.

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They're absolutely hilarious.

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They, for such a small dog, they've

got such a huge personality,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I have,

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Nicky Hammel: every single one

of my dogs is different and

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brings something different.

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So humans, no single

one of them is the same.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: Within the different

coat types that you get within

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the Dax and there are three.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes,

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Nicky Hammel: so what I do sort of

find with mine is my short hair is

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a lot more kind of overexcited with

life in general and everything.

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Whereas.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I, I

know this one who you're talking about, so

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Nicky Hammel: She was my first ever

dog, bless her heart, and seven

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Kimmy.

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Nicky Hammel: Oh yeah, that's Kimmy.

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And she's an absolute angel.

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She is just quite hectic.

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Whereas the long hairs I do

find a lot more chilled and a

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lot more laid back in general.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

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Nicky Hammel: variances between that, but.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: And you know, they're,

they're just such lovely little dogs.

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They are lovely and you know,

they, they love to have a good

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run around and they love their

exercise, they love playing, but

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm-hmm.

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Nicky Hammel: time, they like the

balance of being able to, to chill

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and cuddle up with you as well.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So

they make a bit of a lap dog as well.

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So there's a wired hair.

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Wired hair, Dax sound isn't there as well.

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Nicky Hammel: there

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

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And then you've got mini Dak

sound and then a standard dexon.

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Is that right?

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Nicky Hammel: do?

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Yeah, two

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

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Nicky Hammel: So

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: there's two different

sizes in this country, and it's the,

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it's the mini longs that I bring.

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I don't breed the short hair,

but yeah, just the mini longs.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

they're the mini long-haired huns.

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And would you say that their temperament

is different from the short hair

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to the long hair then as well?

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Nicky Hammel: Oh, in my experience,

yes, but also not only with my

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own dogs, but from when I used to

do daycare and boarding as well,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

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Nicky Hammel: you know, the

majority of the dogs that I

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had would be the short hairs,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: in the daycare.

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'cause they, they were

more popular at the time.

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So

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: But

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Nicky Hammel: back to.

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they were like, albeit they would

behave differently in this environment

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to what they would at home.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm.

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Nicky Hammel: know, just sort

of a comparison with how,

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how I see like my long hairs.

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Yeah, there, there is

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

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Nicky Hammel: a difference there,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: And

I love it that you had to convince your

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husband to get like one, seven years ago.

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Now you've got loads.

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Nicky Hammel: you know,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's brilliant.

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Nicky Hammel: don't you, where

you're like, well, what's one more.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

What's one more?

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That's what happened to me, but we've

actually stopped at seven 'cause we, yeah.

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We couldn't afford anymore,

but yeah, I know what you mean.

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Nicky Hammel: I can't even

remember a time when I had seven.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, well as long as I've known

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you, which is a good few years

now, you've always had quite a few.

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But yeah, I mean, what's, you

know, little dogs, they make up a

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couple of big ones, so it's fine.

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Nicky Hammel: they

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So

my next question then would was around

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what you think are some of the biggest

mis misconceptions around the breed.

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Nicky Hammel: I would say.

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There's probably two,

which I see an awful lot.

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And it's around people just assuming

that they're, because of their size,

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they're a lap dog and they're gonna

cuddle up with you and, you know, just

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want human attention and that's it.

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Which, to be honest, that

couldn't be further from the truth

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because they are working breed.

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Okay?

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You

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: variance between each dog as

an individual and, you know, their, their

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desire to, to work and be a hound is.

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It's more prevalent in

some than in the others.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: the other thing that I see

a lot is people calling them stubborn.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

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And yeah, I hate that saying

'cause there's no such thing

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a stubborn dog is there.

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Nicky Hammel: No, no, no, no.

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And that's it.

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And you know, thinking back to, you

know, when I sort of do my behavioural

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work or I see posts and Facebook groups

and things like that, I think people

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kind of labeling them as that actually.

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Are you motivating your dog enough

for them do what you want them to do?

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And do they understand what you

are actually asking them to do?

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And yeah.

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So yeah, that, that's what I see a lot.

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And you know, people,

you know, notoriously say

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they're difficult to train.

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They're this, they're that,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Really.

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Nicky Hammel: and actually they're not.

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You've just gotta understand

them as a breed and

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I said.

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Nicky Hammel: how you can motivate them

to, do the behaviours you want them to do.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

So it's all about tapping into

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that natural instant, isn't it?

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It's, yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: Yeah.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, yeah.

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And you know every dog can be

trained, but it's, you know, some dogs

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pick up a lot quicker than others.

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You've gotta put in the time.

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And yeah, it's about, and I'm a

big believer in sort of people.

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Doing their research

into the breed as well.

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That's really important, isn't it?

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So that leads us nicely onto

behavioural support for Dak Sands.

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So you've mentioned that obviously,

you know, some people say they're

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hard to train and they're stubborn,

but what would you say are some

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of the most common behavioural

issues that you see in the breed?

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And what do you wish more

owners knew about handling them?

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Nicky Hammel: I mean, I think

probably the, the top behaviour,

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you can hear one of mine now

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's okay.

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I am surprised mine aren't going.

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That's absolutely fine.

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It's all about the happy hour.

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Nicky Hammel: oh yes, and

there's lots of YAP in here.

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I would say probably the top

behavioural problems I see is

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excessive barking reactivity

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: probably

separation, although I don't

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tend to see so much of that now.

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That was a really big thing, you know,

sort of around lockdown time when we were

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes,

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Nicky Hammel: You know, everybody.

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that it was a great time to buy a

dog 'cause they were at home and

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then of course they then went back

to work and the dogs couldn't cope.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's, yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: I don't really see

an awful lot of that at the moment.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

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Nicky Hammel: the excessive barking, the

reactivity perceived aggression and yeah,

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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And obviously they're

barking for a reason.

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It's a natural form of vocalization

communication for a, for a dog, so,

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Nicky Hammel: course, of

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: you know, particularly

with Axon, they're, they're a breed

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that was specifically to bark.

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So, you know, when they would sort of go

to ground after, you know, sort of rabbits

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badges and things like that, they had to

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm,

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Nicky Hammel: to bark so their

handler could actually locate,

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you know, sort of where they were.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's it.

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Nicky Hammel: they, they are a breed that.

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Is gonna be more prone to barking because

that's what they've been been bred to do.

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So

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: that would be a top thing

that really, if you are, if you are gonna

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be looking to get a DAX and one of the top

things that you really need to understand

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Is it they?

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Is it they bark?

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Nicky Hammel: Yeah, they do.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Well all, all dogs bark.

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But yeah, I mean there's some that are

gonna bark more than others because

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they've been bred for a certain reason and

it's just, just the genetics, isn't it?

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And what you know.

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Nicky Hammel: Yeah, of course.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

And you're saying about sa I I

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hadn't worked with many essays in,

in Dxi, but recently I just worked

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with a short head, short head one.

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But I hadn't seen many.

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It was mainly sort of like

the cockapoos and the beagles

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that I'd been working with.

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Yeah.

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So yeah, it is interesting.

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So how could someone strike the right

balance between support and their

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dog's emotions and setting boundaries?

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Nicky Hammel: So again, I think it's

that piece around understanding your

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dog and, you know, understanding

what is natural behaviours for them.

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Understanding that, you know, with natural

behaviours, you know, you can't, I.

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Train those out of a dog,

they're there and that's it.

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I think, you know, in terms of,

of, of setting the boundaries and,

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and being clear with what you want

them to do is, you know, actually

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realistic with what you're expecting.

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going back to the whole barking thing,

you know, if you are gonna expect

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that a dog is never gonna bark, then.

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You know, it, it, it makes

it difficult, doesn't it?

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But

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: you know, being able to

work with your dog and actually teaching

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them that they don't have to bark all

the time and actually, kind of having a

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bit of control over that and rewarding

them, you know, for example, when they're

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quiet and you know, so on and so forth.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

tapping into that, you know, those natural

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instance and giving them a different

outlet with some sort of enrichment

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and brain games and stuff like that.

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Really?

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Nicky Hammel: Yeah.

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A hundred percent.

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A hundred

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: you know, another example

of that is, you know, they're a breed that

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you know is specifically bred to chase

things because they're a hunting breed

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

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Nicky Hammel: You know, this is

something that I've experienced

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myself before I knew any better.

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You know, one of my dogs would kind of

be off chasing everything on a walk.

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And actually you can almost like flip

that and give your dog kind of access

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to things where they can chase things

so they don't then have to kind of go

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off and make their own entertainment.

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So

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

definitely.

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Nicky Hammel: setting those boundaries,

giving the dog the proper outlet

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: the natural behaviours

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

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Nicky Hammel: you know,

showing them alternatives.

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Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

and like you say, it's about understanding

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what those natural behaviours are as

well, so understanding them and then

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sort of setting your dog up for success

and playing to those strengths and

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giving those, those given those those

outlets, which, you know, I love that.

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Perfect.

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Yeah.

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Brilliant.

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So we're gonna move on

to our next section.

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Thanks Nicky for that.

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So life as a responsible breeder.

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:

So you are a licensed

breeder of long-haired dins.

370

:

What does responsible

breeding mean to you, Nicky?

371

:

Nicky Hammel: I think breeding, I would

say, I mean, kind of taking it right back,

372

:

I mean, when I first started breeding

373

:

I had my first litter.

374

:

And then I didn't require

a license for that.

375

:

And I thought, right, I'm gonna,

I'll have a support from a really,

376

:

really good friend of mine who

377

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

378

:

Nicky Hammel: and mentored me

through it because, you know, you,

379

:

you know yourself, you know, it

can be quite scary when you're

380

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

it's, it's very scary.

381

:

Yeah.

382

:

Stressful.

383

:

Nicky Hammel: especially, you know, if

things don't quite go as they should do.

384

:

So I had my first litter and I

actually contacted my animal welfare

385

:

officer and I was kind of like,

okay, I really, really wanna apply.

386

:

For a license.

387

:

And even at that point, she, she kind of

said to me, she, she was like, well, how

388

:

many litters are you gonna be having?

389

:

I mean, I didn't have that

many dogs at that point.

390

:

and she was kind of like,

well, because you're not gonna

391

:

be having litters regularly.

392

:

You don't actually need a license.

393

:

And I was kind of like, well, I know I

don't probably need it right now, but

394

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

But you want, you wanted it?

395

:

Yeah.

396

:

Nicky Hammel: not so I can just say to

people, oh, I've got a breeding license.

397

:

But was, it was more around having,

you know, something in place where I.

398

:

You know, I knew I was following

what the government kind of set

399

:

out as regulations to protect

animals from a welfare perspective.

400

:

I mean, it's not to say if I wasn't

licensed, I wasn't gonna be doing

401

:

that, but, you know, you, you know,

I would've followed it anyway.

402

:

But,

403

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

404

:

Nicky Hammel: obtain a license, you

have to have the animal welfare officer

405

:

come round and inspect your premises.

406

:

They

407

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

408

:

Nicky Hammel: with a vet who spends

a good amount of time inspecting your

409

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

410

:

Nicky Hammel: all of

411

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, I didn't know Yvette did as well.

412

:

Wow.

413

:

Nicky Hammel: Yeah.

414

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

415

:

Nicky Hammel: when I first had

mine, I had my animal welfare

416

:

officer around who I already knew

because I was a licensed boarder.

417

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Of course it's the same person.

418

:

Nicky Hammel: Yeah, so she come around

and did an inspection and you know,

419

:

sort of gave me some guidance about, you

know, sort of things to put in place.

420

:

And then the vet then comes round

and I think she was probably

421

:

here with a vet for about a good

hour, hour and a half, you know,

422

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

423

:

Nicky Hammel: everything.

424

:

They'll look through policies, procedures,

they'll look through your premises and

425

:

you know, all sorts of things like that.

426

:

And then they'll put together a list

of recommendations of, you know,

427

:

further things that they may want

you to put in place or things that

428

:

you want, they want you to change.

429

:

And then once you've done all of those

changes, the animal welfare officer

430

:

then comes back again and reinspect

what you've already done and decides

431

:

whether they're happy to, to sort of

432

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

433

:

Nicky Hammel: license.

434

:

So for

435

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

quite, quite a rigorous process.

436

:

Nicky Hammel: yeah, that, that

437

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's good.

438

:

Nicky Hammel: Was one of the most

important things to have in place.

439

:

But then, you know, sort of following

on from that, it's making sure that all

440

:

the breeding stock that you've got are.

441

:

Good examples of the breed,

442

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

443

:

Nicky Hammel: to, you know, select the

best candidates for your breeding program.

444

:

looking at things like health tests,

the temperament of the dog, and, you

445

:

know, all bits and pieces like that.

446

:

then, you know, it's

447

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

448

:

Nicky Hammel: then sort of made

that commitment to breed, you know,

449

:

I think one of the most important

things for me is, although I'm.

450

:

Breeding puppies and bringing them into

the world, and you know, they'll go off

451

:

to their new homes and things like that.

452

:

because I'm the breeder and I've brought

them into the world, ultimately I have

453

:

a responsibility for that dog from the

day they're born right up until the day

454

:

that they're, you know, they pass away.

455

:

So,

456

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, and that's good.

457

:

Nicky Hammel: One of the things I

have in place with my puppy owners

458

:

is I have a contract in place, which

basically says, you know, if at any

459

:

point in your puppy's life you are

unable to care for them, they must come

460

:

back to me as the breeder and I will

461

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's amazing because

462

:

Nicky Hammel: point

463

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I, I

don't, I don't think a lot of breeders

464

:

do do that, and I think that's important.

465

:

That sets you apart.

466

:

Nicky Hammel: And I think as

467

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

468

:

Nicky Hammel: know, with the amount of

pressure that's on rescue centers and

469

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

470

:

Nicky Hammel: that at at the moment as

well, I think, you know, as a breeder, if

471

:

you are just gonna sell a dog to someone

and then just almost like wash your hands

472

:

and say, well, there you go, then you

know that that's not responsible really.

473

:

And.

474

:

You know, just sort of following on

from that as well, it's the whole

475

:

process that you go through when

you select suitable families and

476

:

owners for your puppies as well.

477

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

478

:

Nicky Hammel: not, I mean, I'm

sure there's breeders out there

479

:

that aren't as thorough, but for

480

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

481

:

Nicky Hammel: I have to know everything

about family and be completely

482

:

comfortable with them before I'm

gonna let them take one of my puppies.

483

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, no, that sets you

484

:

apart from everyone else.

485

:

And I think as well for us it

comes down to ethics as well.

486

:

'cause we are part of like similar

go government bodies and obviously

487

:

we've got like a moral compass and

a certain ethics that we follow.

488

:

So I think from your perspective

as well, the reason you did that

489

:

is because it comes down to your.

490

:

And ethics and what you

believe in are your values.

491

:

Nicky Hammel: Yeah, absolutely.

492

:

And you know, just sort of going back

to, you know, the taking back of a

493

:

puppy, you know, if I, I mean, I always

keep in touch with my puppy owners.

494

:

You know, when someone has a puppy

from me, I always say to them, look,

495

:

you, you are literally part of my

family now and you're stuck with me.

496

:

You're having this puppy

497

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's lovely.

498

:

Nicky Hammel: know, always

keep in contact with them.

499

:

You know, people that send me

updates, videos, all sorts of things.

500

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

501

:

Nicky Hammel: you know, if I.

502

:

I out that someone was struggling

and they hadn't come to me and that

503

:

one of my puppies had ended up in

a rescue or something like that.

504

:

Not that I'm saying there's

anything wrong with rescues

505

:

'cause there's absolutely not.

506

:

But you know, if I found out

that one of my puppies had gone

507

:

to a rescue, I would be so upset

508

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

509

:

Yeah.

510

:

Nicky Hammel: I would like

to have that opportunity to

511

:

always have them back myself.

512

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

You are so invested in, in the puppy

513

:

and their, and their new guardians.

514

:

Perfect.

515

:

So that mo, that mo moves us on nicely

to the next question, which is about

516

:

how do you support puppy guardians

to feel more confident and prepared

517

:

when taking home their new puppy?

518

:

Nicky Hammel: So when people have a

puppy from me, I mean, depending on when

519

:

the puppy owner comes into it, I mean,

some people I'll be in contact with.

520

:

before a matings taken place, or a

puppy's born or anything like that.

521

:

you know, some people it will be, you

know, a little bit further down the

522

:

line when the puppy's a few weeks old.

523

:

you know, I have a lot of contact

with my puppy owners prior to

524

:

them taking their puppy home.

525

:

You know, they have the option to ask

me questions at any time whatsoever.

526

:

and that's, you know, prior to

them getting the puppy, whether

527

:

it be, you know, sort of around.

528

:

Feeding equipment set up at

home, anything like that?

529

:

I mean, when people come, 'cause

normally people will come for a visit

530

:

before they take the puppy home.

531

:

So a lot of this will, we'll talk

about on that initial visit when

532

:

they first come to meet their puppy.

533

:

So we'll go through a lot of information

at that point, and people will have a

534

:

lot of questions, but also when they

take their puppy home, you know, they

535

:

go home with a, a full information

folder of, of information around

536

:

vaccinations, worming, health tests,

537

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

538

:

Nicky Hammel: sorts of things like that.

539

:

And you know, I always say to my

puppy owners when they go, you know,

540

:

you, you've got my phone number.

541

:

You can ring me or message me at any time.

542

:

You know, if there's anything you're

not sure of, anything you're worried

543

:

about, any support I can give you.

544

:

You

545

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

546

:

Nicky Hammel: only ever a phone

call or a message away, so they

547

:

know that they've got me basically.

548

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I think that's fantastic.

549

:

'cause not everyone offers that or

does that, and it's nice that they

550

:

can feel supported and it, it just

says more about you as well, that

551

:

they're getting their puppy from,

you know, a really ethical reader.

552

:

Perfect.

553

:

Nicky Hammel: And not

554

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

555

:

Nicky Hammel: you know, for as, as

a breeder, and you'll probably know

556

:

from, you know, when, when you've

bred yourself, there's nothing nicer

557

:

than somebody got one of your puppies

sending you a photo or a little

558

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

I still get, yeah, I'm still in groups

559

:

now and I get updates, so I mean, it

could be a year down the line and I

560

:

then get a message and it's lovely.

561

:

It's quite, quite heartwarming and.

562

:

Nicky Hammel: so lovely.

563

:

And do you know what, one of my

puppy owners for Christmas this

564

:

year, it actually made me a little

bit emotional when I opened it.

565

:

So I dunno if you've seen them,

but you can get these like.

566

:

Plates or plaques and things

and you know, you can do like

567

:

dog footprints on it or your

568

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

569

:

Nicky Hammel: and stuff like that painted.

570

:

And they'd sent me like this

little plaque with their dog's like

571

:

footprint on it and I was just like,

572

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, that's cute.

573

:

Nicky Hammel: So lovely.

574

:

So

575

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's nice.

576

:

Yeah.

577

:

So you've picked, you know, like

you say, you do your research on

578

:

the, the owners, they get vetted.

579

:

So you've picked a, you know, you've

picked some good people there.

580

:

Nicky Hammel: Yeah, absolutely.

581

:

And you know, I've had people that,

well, I think one person who's actually

582

:

come back for a second puppy as well,

583

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

584

:

Yeah.

585

:

That's good.

586

:

Nicky Hammel: that's been lovely as well.

587

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, that's really nice.

588

:

Perfect.

589

:

So moving on to our next section.

590

:

Thank you for that.

591

:

So it's all around

puppyhood to adolescent.

592

:

So raising a happy and fulfilled dexon.

593

:

What are the key things you recommend

for the new Dexon guardians to

594

:

focus on during those early weeks?

595

:

Nicky Hammel: So early weeks,

I would say take things slowly.

596

:

Don't expect too much, at the same

time, you know, sort of start doing

597

:

things as you know, as soon as you,

you take pup home, because I mean,

598

:

obviously while the puppies with me,

I will have done a certain amount

599

:

of socialization and habitation.

600

:

So, you know, puppies will sort

of leave me with, you know, sort

601

:

of being comfortable around a

variety of different people.

602

:

Particularly children as well.

603

:

You know, I'm very fortunate in that

respect because, you know, a lot of

604

:

the time you, you can hear stories

about people's Dax ands not liking

605

:

children and, and, and things like that.

606

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Right.

607

:

Nicky Hammel: you know.

608

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

609

:

Nicky Hammel: If they've never been

around children or the new home

610

:

doesn't have children, that actually

be quite difficult, especially if

611

:

they've got family that have got

children that then sort of visit

612

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm

613

:

Nicky Hammel: So, you know,

614

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm.

615

:

Nicky Hammel: kids are, well, they're

nine and nearly 10 and nearly 18.

616

:

So, you know, they're, they're very,

very much hands-on with the pups.

617

:

They get handled by them, you know, they

get to spend a lot of time with them.

618

:

So.

619

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

620

:

Nicky Hammel: You know, and they get

to meet a different variety of people.

621

:

You know, we have visitors

and things like that.

622

:

And, you know, they have a lot of the

time they, you know, they're, they're

623

:

downstairs in an area of the living

room where they can see everything

624

:

that's going on, all the sight

sounds, smells, everything like that.

625

:

I mean, some breeders you know, will

sort of have dogs and kennels and

626

:

things like that, and, you know.

627

:

I dunno how much they get to

experience a home environment.

628

:

But you know, we make sure when our

puppies leave that, you know, they've

629

:

kind of experienced most things that

they sort of need to experience and

630

:

it's really about the owners, you know,

sort of keeping up on top of that and

631

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

632

:

Nicky Hammel: to build on that, but

obviously not doing things too quickly.

633

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

634

:

Nicky Hammel: So for them

to sort of start doing that.

635

:

And also as well, know, sort of getting

them to build the pup's confidence, you

636

:

know, sort of alone and things like that.

637

:

So, you know, the, the most tempting

thing to do when you've got a new puppy

638

:

is just to pick, pop up and cuddle them

all the time, which saying is wrong.

639

:

all do it.

640

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: We do.

641

:

Nicky Hammel: them have that little bit

of independence where they can kind of.

642

:

Go and do own thing and actually put

proof in the home so you know it is

643

:

safe for pup and you're not sort of

almost like telling them no every five

644

:

minutes or Come here, don't do that.

645

:

It's, you

646

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

647

:

Nicky Hammel: opportunity to be confident

and, you know, sort of go and explore

648

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

649

:

Nicky Hammel: getting into

trouble, if that makes sense.

650

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

651

:

And I think the, from my experience

working with puppy owners, the things

652

:

they struggle with initially is

probably like toilet training and yeah.

653

:

So have you got any tips on

sort of toilet training at all?

654

:

Nicky Hammel: I mean, in terms of

toilet training with, with mine,

655

:

I will just sort of, you know, af

probably every sort of 15, 20 minutes

656

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's it.

657

:

Yeah.

658

:

Nicky Hammel: them outside

particularly after they've eaten

659

:

or had playtime or they've just

660

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

661

:

Nicky Hammel: up and things like

662

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

663

:

Nicky Hammel: I mean, we start

toilet training with the pups

664

:

around sort of three or four weeks.

665

:

So we have them, you know, sort of,

kind of in a welcoming box up until

666

:

three or four weeks till they get

a little bit more mobile and then.

667

:

really good at cleaning up

after them, you know, sort of

668

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

669

:

Nicky Hammel: they're there.

670

:

But

671

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

672

:

Nicky Hammel: a little bit

older around, you know, sort of

673

:

three and a half, four weeks,

674

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah,

675

:

Nicky Hammel: of create in a pen, you

know, a separate sleeping and toilet area.

676

:

So, you know, they do start to

understand the difference of,

677

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

678

:

Nicky Hammel: of where to

go and where not to go.

679

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

680

:

Nicky Hammel: and one thing I do sort

of say to my puppy owners is, don't

681

:

fall into the habit of using puppy pads.

682

:

I'm, I'm

683

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I know.

684

:

Nicky Hammel: I think they've got a place,

685

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

686

:

Nicky Hammel: Nelly, I'm not a fan of

using a puppy pad indoors because I think

687

:

it's confusing and it kind of teaches

the pup that it's okay to go to the

688

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, your, your encouraging to go

689

:

indoors, but I know that like for some

people that were using them, I, what

690

:

I used to say was, we'll put it by

the back door and then slowly move it

691

:

outside so that the puppy knows to go.

692

:

But I.

693

:

With a lot of this, it is for

long getting a new puppy and we

694

:

don't know what we don't know.

695

:

So it's all about sort of education

and research and stuff like that.

696

:

And, you know, getting a reputable

sort of dog trainer positive

697

:

reinforcement dog trainer.

698

:

Early on, that's mine.

699

:

Sort of probably having a scrap

down there now on the floor.

700

:

Yeah, getting help early on doing,

I'm really big on sort of education,

701

:

doing your research into the breed.

702

:

Particularly obviously if it's like

you know, a breed that, like you say,

703

:

you've not got kids or, you've not got

a garden, you, you're just in a flat

704

:

that's gonna make toilet training harder.

705

:

Yeah, that's what I was gonna say.

706

:

So people don't realize that you

have to be so rigid and get them

707

:

out every sort of 15 to 20 minutes.

708

:

So I, I'd say like you

just have to put 'em out.

709

:

And even if they don't do anything

when they do go, you've gotta

710

:

fully praise them and reinforce

that with a nice, tasty treat.

711

:

But like clockwork, you have

to set a, a timer and get

712

:

them out every 15, 20 minutes.

713

:

And they, they, like you said,

after any form of excitement, play

714

:

eating, they've just woken up.

715

:

You need to just put 'em out.

716

:

'cause they don't, they can't

control their bladder straight away.

717

:

Nicky Hammel: Absolutely.

718

:

And then, you know, not getting

upset if they do have an accident

719

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Exactly.

720

:

Nicky Hammel: it is gonna happen.

721

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It does.

722

:

I used to say create the party outside

and all your neighbors probably think

723

:

you're crazy, but you know, when they

do go outside, just wave your arms

724

:

around and get all, get all excited.

725

:

So you picked, I picked up on some, as

you said, so some of our pet parents

726

:

listening, they may know what's

of, they may have heard the word

727

:

socialization, but you mentioned habit.

728

:

It's another word I can't say habitation.

729

:

Yeah.

730

:

Are you able just to tell us what

that word means if you don't mind?

731

:

Nicky Hammel: the difference, I

mean, socialization, pretty much

732

:

everyone knows what that means.

733

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

734

:

Nicky Hammel: introducing the dog to

all living creatures, whether that

735

:

be humans, dogs, cats, any other

animals you might have in the house.

736

:

But habituation relates to, you know, sort

of things that are in the environment.

737

:

So, sight, sounds, textures,

all bits and bobs like that.

738

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

739

:

Nicky Hammel: well.

740

:

So what we sort of tend to do with

our puppies as well, we do do a bit

741

:

of the early neurological stimulation

and the early scent introduction.

742

:

So the early neurological

what you call it the early

743

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: a,

744

:

Nicky Hammel: neurological stimulation.

745

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's A-N-S-A-N-S, in other words,

746

:

Nicky Hammel: I was trying

to use the correct name.

747

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that that's.

748

:

Nicky Hammel: you know, there, there's

various exercises that you can do

749

:

which kind of relates to touch.

750

:

So it's kind of touching

their feet, holding them in

751

:

different positions and whatnot.

752

:

And it's designed to,

you know, sort of create.

753

:

A little bit of stress, but also

to help build but good stress, not

754

:

stress in a bad way, but good to help

build their resilience a little bit.

755

:

And then, you know, you sort

of do that for the first week

756

:

from day three up to day 10.

757

:

And then you can also do

that with scent as well.

758

:

So you pick a different scent

for each day, whether it be.

759

:

You know, sort of household things like,

you know, some of your herbs, not the ones

760

:

that are like really strong, like cayenne

pepper or chili powder or something

761

:

like that, but your na, your natural

herbs that you get, you know, like your

762

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

763

:

Nicky Hammel: and things like that.

764

:

You can grab bits and bobs,

you know, sort of from outside

765

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

766

:

Nicky Hammel: would be, you know, you

can record the pup's reaction to it.

767

:

So it's things like, you know,

if they have no reaction, whether

768

:

they move towards the item or sent.

769

:

Or, and whether they sort

of like move away from it.

770

:

So again, it's just building that

little bit of resilience there as well.

771

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

772

:

Brilliant.

773

:

I love that.

774

:

I was gonna mention as well, is that when

the puppy goes home, if that's either

775

:

eight, 10 or 12 weeks, and we've got

this thing with vaccinations now that

776

:

they have to wait or they get spaced

out, and that's quite a key, what we

777

:

call the sensitive period for, for dogs.

778

:

And they need to sort of, you know, have

all these different novel experiences.

779

:

So don't get so hung up on that.

780

:

You can't take your puppy out.

781

:

You should put it in like

a puppy sling so they can

782

:

Nicky Hammel: sling.

783

:

I

784

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

785

:

Nicky Hammel: all of

786

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's, yeah.

787

:

So I just thought it would good to touch

on that, that even though they don't

788

:

have their second vac, you wouldn't let

them interact maybe with other dogs or

789

:

out on the street, but take them out so

they can experience those novel sounds.

790

:

Sight and smiles.

791

:

Nicky Hammel: Or you know, if you've

got vaccinated dogs in the family.

792

:

It's fine for them to come

in and, and and visit pup?

793

:

absolutely.

794

:

As long as they're vaccinated, it's just,

yeah, pup can't go on the floor outside,

795

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

796

:

Nicky Hammel: wrong with,

you know, bringing in novel

797

:

things from outside as well.

798

:

You know, sort of like leaves other

799

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

good idea.

800

:

Nicky Hammel: you know, sort of stones

and anything like that at all that,

801

:

you know, sort of pup can explore.

802

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

803

:

Brilliant.

804

:

Perfect.

805

:

So moving on then to when the Dak

sound goes through adolescence, so

806

:

it's quite a tricky time for them.

807

:

So it can be a lot for the, the

dog and the owners the pet parents.

808

:

What tips do you have or would you

like to share for this tricky stage?

809

:

Nicky Hammel: so I, one of

my dogs was quite a difficult

810

:

adolescent dog, and yeah, I can

completely relate to anybody who.

811

:

May struggle with this and you

know, from my own experience, the

812

:

only thing I can say is, first

of all, it doesn't last forever.

813

:

And you do come out the other side of it,

814

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

815

:

Nicky Hammel: being aware

that it's gonna happen.

816

:

Behaviours and things that the dog

was maybe happy to do before could go

817

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

818

:

Nicky Hammel: Things like toilet

training could go backwards.

819

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

820

:

Nicky Hammel: Know, particularly with

my male dogs, I've found they can all of

821

:

a sudden become more fearful of things.

822

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

823

:

Nicky Hammel: You know, they, they can

be seen as, you know, sort of ignoring

824

:

things that you are asking them to

825

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Right.

826

:

Nicky Hammel: And just in general.

827

:

You know, being able to do the

things that they could do previously.

828

:

And again, you know, it comes back to that

thing that we were sort of talking about

829

:

right at the very beginning when we were,

you know, sort of saying that they get

830

:

branded as stubborn and things like that.

831

:

It's,

832

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

833

:

Nicky Hammel: it's not about

them being stubborn, it's about

834

:

they are not understanding.

835

:

you are wanting them to do.

836

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

837

:

Nicky Hammel: how the brain and

everything is developing and all

838

:

the hormonal changes and, and, and

things like that, it, know, everything

839

:

just kind of tends to go backwards.

840

:

So again, it, you know, it's being

really, really aware of that and

841

:

that you might have to go back to

basics with a lot of your training.

842

:

Things like your toilet

training and things like that.

843

:

You know, if they were happy

with being alone before and

844

:

they may not be happy with.

845

:

sort of being alone right now.

846

:

Again, that

847

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

848

:

Nicky Hammel: a factor and I

849

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

850

:

Nicky Hammel: just about being patient

851

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

852

:

Nicky Hammel: expecting them

to do too much and just having

853

:

that real understanding.

854

:

And it's not them being

stubborn or a difficult dog or

855

:

doing anything to fight you.

856

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

857

:

Nicky Hammel: just one of those,

you know, developmental things that

858

:

everybody goes through and, you know,

you know, humans go through it as well,

859

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

860

:

Nicky Hammel: All sorts of stories

about teenagers getting up to

861

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

862

:

Nicky Hammel: next thing you know

when they go through adolescence

863

:

and when you know they're in

their teens and things like that.

864

:

And it's

865

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

866

:

Nicky Hammel: for our dogs.

867

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So

yeah, obviously it happens a lot earlier.

868

:

So I wanted to touch on the point you

said about males being a bit more fearful.

869

:

So they do go through, and not

a lot of pet parents may know

870

:

this, it's the second fear cycle.

871

:

It's normally from about

eight to 10 months.

872

:

Is that right?

873

:

Nicky Hammel: And although it's

kind of called a second second

874

:

fear cycle, it is more to do with

adolescents and the hormonal changes.

875

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I

did wonder that, because I was thinking

876

:

they've got this second fear circle.

877

:

I don't really know what that means.

878

:

But then they've got adolescents,

they've got all this brain fog, and

879

:

like you say, they're by no means

meaning to, to ignore you or to do

880

:

like things that they shouldn't be.

881

:

But they're, they've got a lot

that they're, they're dealing with.

882

:

So you, you are saying it's actually

sort of more of the same then the, the,

883

:

Nicky Hammel: Yeah, I think so.

884

:

And you know, again, I like to

make the comparison to humans.

885

:

'cause I think a lot of the time when

you're speaking to people about it in

886

:

relation to their dog, if you can link it.

887

:

To the human concept, it's

either something they've gone

888

:

through themselves or they know

someone that's gone through it.

889

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

890

:

Nicky Hammel: interesting what

you were sort of saying about the

891

:

brain fog and things like that.

892

:

You know, obviously when women go

through perimenopause and menopause

893

:

and, and things like that, you

know, I'm at that age now, you

894

:

know, you kind of become a little

895

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: My.

896

:

Nicky Hammel: You

897

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: My mum.

898

:

My mum, bless her, she's in her sixties.

899

:

She's been going through it for years,

and she's still having problems.

900

:

Bless her.

901

:

So I've, yeah, you've got my,

you've got my respect you ladies.

902

:

Nicky Hammel: But you know,

it all joking apart, it is

903

:

exactly the same for the dogs.

904

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

905

:

Nicky Hammel: you know, if people can

kind of relate to that and understand

906

:

that, I think that gives people a

deeper understanding of their dog.

907

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, it's always good to

908

:

compare, make comparisons.

909

:

And can you is it with smaller dogs,

do they tend to start adolescents

910

:

in six months or does it just vary?

911

:

Nicky Hammel: It varies.

912

:

It varies.

913

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

914

:

Nicky Hammel: you know,

915

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I know with bigger dogs

916

:

it's like a Yeah, go ahead.

917

:

My love.

918

:

Nicky Hammel: no, no, no.

919

:

I was just gonna say, you know, with some

of my dogs, I've not even noticed them go

920

:

through adolescence and hormonal changes

921

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

922

:

Nicky Hammel: same and you know,

they've not been any different.

923

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's interesting.

924

:

Nicky Hammel: But then of them you

really, really do notice the change.

925

:

And like I was saying, one of my dogs

really, really sticks out for me,

926

:

and you probably know who that is.

927

:

Anyway, my dogs,

928

:

yeah.

929

:

Yeah, it, it does vary so much.

930

:

And you know, even with like,

some of the girls, I mean, the

931

:

girls mature at different rates.

932

:

You know, I've, I've had dogs

that have come into season, you

933

:

know, and had their first season

when they've been five months old.

934

:

And then at

935

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh wow.

936

:

Nicky Hammel: you know, I've had

a dog that didn't have her first

937

:

season till she was 13 months old.

938

:

So, you know, it is all

939

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

940

:

Nicky Hammel: very, very different.

941

:

Very, very

942

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

943

:

Nicky Hammel: what

944

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Do

female and male D Dashon Ds go through

945

:

adolescents at different ages or.

946

:

Nicky Hammel: would say

some of the girls earlier,

947

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

948

:

Mm-hmm.

949

:

Nicky Hammel: I mean, I start to

notice things with the boys around

950

:

sort of seven, eight months.

951

:

And like I say, with the girls,

they can come into season sort of

952

:

as early as five or six months.

953

:

So

954

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

955

:

Nicky Hammel: it does.

956

:

I do think in general the girls probably

go through it a little bit earlier.

957

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

958

:

And what I was saying earlier is

that I think the bigger dogs tend

959

:

to be later around about 18 months,

or 12 to 18 months, but the smaller

960

:

dogs do tend to start earlier.

961

:

So, yeah, that's really interesting.

962

:

So if there's one thing that you

w that you, if there's one thing

963

:

you wished all D and pet parents,

guardians knew, what would it be?

964

:

Nicky Hammel: I would

say probably the biggest

965

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I.

966

:

Nicky Hammel: Is whatever you are

going through, you're not alone.

967

:

You're not, and know it's absolutely

fine for you to reach out for help.

968

:

Don't sort of

969

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

970

:

Nicky Hammel: by yourself or think you're

the only one that's going through it.

971

:

You know, a lot of the time.

972

:

You know, when people get a new

puppy, it, it is very overwhelming.

973

:

You know, it's like when you have a

child for the first time, it is, you

974

:

know, it's very, very emotional and, and

you know, sort of very, very similar.

975

:

And, you know, people

struggle and, you know.

976

:

like to call it the puppy blues, but you

know, that is something a bit like the

977

:

baby blues, again, the human analogy.

978

:

It's,

979

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

980

:

Nicky Hammel: very real

for a lot of people.

981

:

And you know, if you've got a dog or

pup that's keeping you up half the night

982

:

and you know, you're sleep deprived and

you know, you can't get your dog to do

983

:

what you want them to do and they're not

doing this and they're not doing that,

984

:

you know, it is, it is really, really

emotional and you know, to anybody,

985

:

I would say don't suffer in silence.

986

:

Reach out for help.

987

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Brilliant.

988

:

My God, we've literally

sailed through this episode.

989

:

It is literally been jam

packed with information.

990

:

It's so, I love it.

991

:

So we're gonna spend the next sort of five

minutes or so just sort of wrapping up.

992

:

So for someone who might be struggling

right now, what would you say to

993

:

them to make them feel more hopeful

or to help them feel more hopeful?

994

:

Nicky Hammel: just.

995

:

Whatever it is that you're going

through at the moment, it is just

996

:

a point in your pet's journey,

997

:

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

998

:

Nicky Hammel: know, and you know, just

sort of reiterating around, you know,

999

:

the adolescent side of things, you know?

:

00:42:49,267 --> 00:42:49,627

Yes.

:

00:42:49,627 --> 00:42:55,087

That can start at any time from, you

know, 5, 6, 7 months and go on, you know,

:

00:42:55,087 --> 00:42:58,087

until sort of 18 months to two years and,

:

00:42:58,221 --> 00:42:58,611

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:42:58,837 --> 00:43:04,267

Nicky Hammel: you know, it's, it

is just that moment in time and.

:

00:43:05,377 --> 00:43:09,367

You know, once you've kind of gone

through that and things settle down,

:

00:43:10,147 --> 00:43:14,617

you know, you'll kind of look back

on it and think, it wasn't that bad.

:

00:43:14,617 --> 00:43:16,147

I probably would do that again.

:

00:43:17,737 --> 00:43:18,127

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:43:18,277 --> 00:43:20,137

Nicky Hammel: you know, whatever

anybody's going through, you

:

00:43:20,137 --> 00:43:21,817

know, it, it isn't forever.

:

00:43:22,177 --> 00:43:26,647

And like I say, it is

just that point in life.

:

00:43:27,622 --> 00:43:27,982

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:43:28,162 --> 00:43:28,792

I love that.

:

00:43:29,132 --> 00:43:35,852

And basically if someone was looking at

getting a d you, you'd, you'd recommend

:

00:43:35,852 --> 00:43:38,372

them researching the breed, wouldn't you?

:

00:43:38,377 --> 00:43:39,277

And doing their homework.

:

00:43:39,377 --> 00:43:39,947

Nicky Hammel: percent.

:

00:43:39,947 --> 00:43:45,047

And you know, I think particularly

just sort of going back to what we were

:

00:43:45,047 --> 00:43:52,427

talking about earlier with how I select

my puppy owners, so I have a form that.

:

00:43:52,802 --> 00:43:56,732

A potential puppy owner has to fill in

because I basically wanna know everything

:

00:43:56,732 --> 00:44:01,892

about this person, you know, what they do,

what their work is, what their family set

:

00:44:01,892 --> 00:44:04,202

up is, and this, that, and the next thing.

:

00:44:04,332 --> 00:44:04,912

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's good.

:

00:44:04,942 --> 00:44:05,512

Your father.

:

00:44:06,242 --> 00:44:10,892

Nicky Hammel: one of the questions

that I do ask on there is around

:

00:44:11,702 --> 00:44:15,362

they aware of the potential

health issues that DAXs can have?

:

00:44:15,722 --> 00:44:16,082

And there

:

00:44:16,412 --> 00:44:16,632

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes,

:

00:44:16,652 --> 00:44:19,502

Nicky Hammel: know, sort of some quite

serious health issues that they can have.

:

00:44:19,772 --> 00:44:20,462

So I think.

:

00:44:20,657 --> 00:44:20,778

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's right.

:

00:44:21,062 --> 00:44:24,242

Nicky Hammel: You know, not to put the

sort of downer on someone wanting to

:

00:44:24,242 --> 00:44:29,132

get a puppy, but I think, you know,

with anything, you've gotta go into

:

00:44:29,132 --> 00:44:33,662

it, you know, with your eyes wide open

and actually, you know, be prepared

:

00:44:33,662 --> 00:44:37,922

for the fact that, you know, we as

breeders do as much as we possibly

:

00:44:37,922 --> 00:44:43,202

can around, you know, selecting

dogs for temperament confirmation.

:

00:44:43,262 --> 00:44:43,772

We do all

:

00:44:43,827 --> 00:44:44,047

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

:

00:44:44,252 --> 00:44:47,762

Nicky Hammel: health tests to

make sure you know that we're.

:

00:44:48,152 --> 00:44:52,322

Breeding the healthiest puppies

that we possibly can, but

:

00:44:52,652 --> 00:44:52,712

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:44:52,712 --> 00:44:56,792

Nicky Hammel: only so much we

can do because there is still a

:

00:44:56,792 --> 00:45:00,632

small chance that, you know, some,

something might happen, you know,

:

00:45:00,632 --> 00:45:01,892

sort of later on down the line.

:

00:45:01,892 --> 00:45:05,642

So really it's, you know, sort of

nailing people down and, you know, making

:

00:45:05,642 --> 00:45:07,652

sure that people are aware of that.

:

00:45:07,922 --> 00:45:08,252

And

:

00:45:08,422 --> 00:45:08,712

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:45:09,002 --> 00:45:12,392

Nicky Hammel: does go wrong, are

they gonna be prepared for it?

:

00:45:13,002 --> 00:45:13,292

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:45:13,742 --> 00:45:15,482

Nicky Hammel: and what

that's likely to involve.

:

00:45:15,752 --> 00:45:18,662

And then, you know, it's around

sort of researching the breed.

:

00:45:19,022 --> 00:45:22,202

You know, things like how much

exercise the breed needs, what, what

:

00:45:22,202 --> 00:45:25,322

sort of exercise they need, what

sort of things they're gonna find

:

00:45:25,322 --> 00:45:29,702

most rewarding, what sort of mental

stimulation are they gonna enjoy.

:

00:45:30,062 --> 00:45:30,332

You know, I.

:

00:45:30,782 --> 00:45:35,012

Things like, for example, you know,

the fact that they're a scent hound

:

00:45:35,012 --> 00:45:36,602

and they're very, very cent driven.

:

00:45:36,902 --> 00:45:40,832

So tapping into that sort of thing

and you know, just getting people to

:

00:45:40,832 --> 00:45:45,542

research so they can understand what.

:

00:45:46,367 --> 00:45:49,007

The dog is that they're getting and how

:

00:45:49,052 --> 00:45:49,272

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

:

00:45:49,397 --> 00:45:53,237

Nicky Hammel: provide the best

possible enriching life for that dog.

:

00:45:53,237 --> 00:45:53,537

And,

:

00:45:53,842 --> 00:45:54,132

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:45:54,707 --> 00:45:57,797

Nicky Hammel: we can educate as

much as we possibly can, you know,

:

00:45:57,797 --> 00:46:02,117

as breeders and, you know, there's,

there's probably breeders out there

:

00:46:02,117 --> 00:46:07,157

that maybe don't go into as much detail

and give as much information as I do.

:

00:46:07,602 --> 00:46:07,822

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

:

00:46:08,537 --> 00:46:11,087

Nicky Hammel: you know,

I of like people to.

:

00:46:12,107 --> 00:46:14,867

everything before they

then make a commitment.

:

00:46:15,497 --> 00:46:15,947

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:46:16,217 --> 00:46:20,807

I just want to quickly, really touch,

quickly touch on just about IVDD.

:

00:46:21,077 --> 00:46:24,677

So we mentioned about obviously

they're doing their research, but

:

00:46:24,677 --> 00:46:29,687

IVDD is something that potential

people should know about, isn't it?

:

00:46:29,687 --> 00:46:30,977

'cause it could happen.

:

00:46:31,577 --> 00:46:32,747

Nicky Hammel: Yeah, absolutely.

:

00:46:33,407 --> 00:46:33,797

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:46:34,217 --> 00:46:38,867

Nicky Hammel: And you know, it's also

as well being aware of the condition

:

00:46:39,147 --> 00:46:40,107

you know, it's a condition that.

:

00:46:40,737 --> 00:46:42,117

Affects their back and can

:

00:46:42,357 --> 00:46:42,927

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's right.

:

00:46:43,922 --> 00:46:44,212

Yeah.

:

00:46:44,697 --> 00:46:46,257

Nicky Hammel: dogs need surgery for it.

:

00:46:46,287 --> 00:46:50,847

Other times, you know, they can be

rehabilitated with, you know, sort

:

00:46:50,847 --> 00:46:54,777

of conservative treatment like pain

relief, crate rest, things like that.

:

00:46:55,137 --> 00:46:58,377

I mean, I've seen dogs recover

without surgery and then I've seen

:

00:46:58,707 --> 00:46:58,887

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh.

:

00:46:59,037 --> 00:47:00,117

Nicky Hammel: have needed surgery.

:

00:47:00,717 --> 00:47:04,407

You know, I've seen some that have had

surgery two or three different times.

:

00:47:04,407 --> 00:47:06,597

So, you know, it is being aware of that.

:

00:47:07,602 --> 00:47:08,142

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:47:08,397 --> 00:47:11,577

Nicky Hammel: that, you know, the disease

does exist and whilst we do everything

:

00:47:11,577 --> 00:47:13,767

we possibly can to, to minimize it,

:

00:47:14,506 --> 00:47:14,727

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm

:

00:47:15,687 --> 00:47:21,897

Nicky Hammel: you know, as a breeder,

given your puppy owners advice on

:

00:47:22,197 --> 00:47:23,877

how to mitigate against the risks.

:

00:47:23,877 --> 00:47:27,267

So the types of exercise, the

activities you allow your doctor to do.

:

00:47:27,297 --> 00:47:28,077

Things like

:

00:47:28,091 --> 00:47:28,542

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: mm.

:

00:47:28,707 --> 00:47:31,557

Nicky Hammel: their weight to a good

weight, looking at diet and, you

:

00:47:31,557 --> 00:47:33,207

know, sort of everything like that.

:

00:47:33,207 --> 00:47:35,187

And it, you know, it's

kind of given people.

:

00:47:35,547 --> 00:47:37,527

That awareness around that.

:

00:47:38,457 --> 00:47:38,757

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:47:38,757 --> 00:47:41,727

I just thought it was really important

just to touch on it because it is

:

00:47:41,727 --> 00:47:45,417

something you know that you do see, and

I just think if someone was new to the

:

00:47:45,417 --> 00:47:48,652

breed, it is something they should really

be aware of and they wanna look into.

:

00:47:49,407 --> 00:47:51,957

Nicky Hammel: But also, you know,

sort of off the back of that as well,

:

00:47:51,957 --> 00:47:55,627

you know, there is another condition

that they can suffer from, which is

:

00:47:55,627 --> 00:47:57,187

a condition that affects their eyes.

:

00:47:57,187 --> 00:48:00,217

So it's called progressive

retinal, a trophy.

:

00:48:00,332 --> 00:48:00,991

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: PRA.

:

00:48:01,382 --> 00:48:02,222

Nicky Hammel: ERA, so you've

:

00:48:02,312 --> 00:48:02,912

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:48:02,982 --> 00:48:05,172

Nicky Hammel: So yeah, basically

what that is, that that's a

:

00:48:05,172 --> 00:48:06,672

condition that affects their eyes.

:

00:48:06,672 --> 00:48:11,052

So what, as a breeder, what you have

to do is you have to test all your

:

00:48:11,052 --> 00:48:14,802

breeding stock to see whether they

carry the gene or whether they're

:

00:48:14,802 --> 00:48:19,512

clear of it and what you have to

do within your breeding program.

:

00:48:20,547 --> 00:48:22,947

Dogs that carry the gene, absolutely fine.

:

00:48:22,947 --> 00:48:24,297

They won't be affected by it.

:

00:48:24,357 --> 00:48:27,057

They just carry the gene and

they, it means that they can

:

00:48:27,057 --> 00:48:28,317

pass it on to their offspring.

:

00:48:28,317 --> 00:48:32,547

But what you have to do with breeding

is you have to then put them to

:

00:48:32,547 --> 00:48:34,047

a dog that's clear of the gene.

:

00:48:34,677 --> 00:48:38,817

So what will then happen is each

puppy within that litter has a

:

00:48:38,817 --> 00:48:42,237

50 50 chance of being a carrier

or being clear of the gene.

:

00:48:42,717 --> 00:48:46,587

But what you can't do is if you've

got two carriers of the gene.

:

00:48:47,307 --> 00:48:51,567

can't breed them together because there's

a 50 50 chance that the puppies will

:

00:48:51,567 --> 00:48:54,417

either be carriers or they'll be affected.

:

00:48:54,417 --> 00:48:57,237

And if they're affected, it

means they could go blind at some

:

00:48:57,237 --> 00:48:58,617

point later on in their life.

:

00:48:59,066 --> 00:48:59,607

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh gosh.

:

00:49:00,037 --> 00:49:00,327

Yeah.

:

00:49:00,447 --> 00:49:04,317

Nicky Hammel: yeah, again, health

testing and you know, if anyone's

:

00:49:04,317 --> 00:49:08,247

looking to get a puppy, these are

the sorts of questions that you

:

00:49:08,247 --> 00:49:10,137

know, that people need to be asking

:

00:49:10,216 --> 00:49:10,437

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It,

:

00:49:10,647 --> 00:49:10,797

Nicky Hammel: And

:

00:49:10,977 --> 00:49:11,196

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: it

:

00:49:11,217 --> 00:49:11,637

Nicky Hammel: what help

:

00:49:11,982 --> 00:49:12,071

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: should,

:

00:49:12,117 --> 00:49:12,687

Nicky Hammel: been done.

:

00:49:12,941 --> 00:49:13,571

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

:

00:49:13,781 --> 00:49:16,752

The only reason I knew about, 'cause

the toy peles had to be tested for it.

:

00:49:16,812 --> 00:49:17,082

Nicky Hammel: Yeah.

:

00:49:17,127 --> 00:49:19,077

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So

it is important, like you say, if you

:

00:49:19,077 --> 00:49:22,167

are, if you are getting a puppy that

you do ask that they've had these

:

00:49:22,167 --> 00:49:23,547

relevant health checks and stuff.

:

00:49:23,547 --> 00:49:23,607

Yeah.

:

00:49:23,862 --> 00:49:24,462

Nicky Hammel: absolutely.

:

00:49:24,462 --> 00:49:27,197

And not only just ask him,

but actually ask to see

:

00:49:27,252 --> 00:49:27,732

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

the result.

:

00:49:27,817 --> 00:49:28,037

Nicky Hammel: it.

:

00:49:28,122 --> 00:49:28,361

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:49:28,361 --> 00:49:29,051

See the evidence.

:

00:49:29,051 --> 00:49:29,381

Yeah.

:

00:49:29,597 --> 00:49:29,887

Nicky Hammel: Yeah,

:

00:49:30,071 --> 00:49:30,881

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, definitely.

:

00:49:31,791 --> 00:49:32,271

Brilliant.

:

00:49:32,361 --> 00:49:34,191

So I absolutely love the breed.

:

00:49:34,561 --> 00:49:38,061

Obviously I've met your, I've

obviously helped look after your

:

00:49:38,061 --> 00:49:40,761

guys a couple of times and seen them

when I come around for a couple,

:

00:49:40,761 --> 00:49:43,281

but, and Kimmy like seems to love me.

:

00:49:43,531 --> 00:49:46,151

But I'm sure she's like with

everyone, she likes to gimme a wash.

:

00:49:46,602 --> 00:49:47,502

Nicky Hammel: She loves everyone.

:

00:49:47,502 --> 00:49:47,987

That dog.

:

00:49:48,481 --> 00:49:51,761

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So I

mean they're just, I, I walk a few as

:

00:49:51,761 --> 00:49:56,581

well, so we've got a few Dax on our books

and like they're just full of character.

:

00:49:56,581 --> 00:50:00,091

I just think like they're just

really, they're really spirited.

:

00:50:00,922 --> 00:50:02,427

Nicky Hammel: They, they really are.

:

00:50:02,427 --> 00:50:03,987

And they're so funny.

:

00:50:04,576 --> 00:50:04,866

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:50:05,187 --> 00:50:05,727

Nicky Hammel: funny.

:

00:50:05,787 --> 00:50:09,777

And you know, each, like I say,

each of my dogs, they bring

:

00:50:10,047 --> 00:50:11,937

something completely different.

:

00:50:12,237 --> 00:50:12,297

To

:

00:50:12,361 --> 00:50:13,426

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Their own personalities.

:

00:50:14,157 --> 00:50:16,977

Nicky Hammel: I mean, I've, I've

got dogs that make me laugh from

:

00:50:16,977 --> 00:50:19,887

the minute I get up to the minute

I go to bed because they're just so

:

00:50:19,887 --> 00:50:21,567

funny and the things that they do.

:

00:50:21,987 --> 00:50:25,377

And then, you know, you've got

the real, like soft ones that

:

00:50:25,377 --> 00:50:27,057

are like really, really cuddly.

:

00:50:27,387 --> 00:50:29,037

And then you've got the others.

:

00:50:29,067 --> 00:50:32,097

That are more scent

driven than the others.

:

00:50:32,097 --> 00:50:36,177

So, you know, you can go out and do some

training and have some real fun with them.

:

00:50:36,177 --> 00:50:38,822

Whereas some of the others,

they're kind of like, they're,

:

00:50:38,827 --> 00:50:40,077

they're not too fussed about it.

:

00:50:40,077 --> 00:50:42,027

They'd rather sit and

have a cuddle on the sofa.

:

00:50:42,507 --> 00:50:46,317

But you know, each one of my dogs

brings something different to the

:

00:50:46,317 --> 00:50:48,207

table and yeah, they're amazing.

:

00:50:48,267 --> 00:50:48,417

I'm

:

00:50:48,791 --> 00:50:49,001

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: they're,

:

00:50:49,017 --> 00:50:49,342

Nicky Hammel: they aren't.

:

00:50:50,501 --> 00:50:52,151

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

yeah, I love, I love them as well.

:

00:50:52,151 --> 00:50:53,951

They're such, such,

such little characters.

:

00:50:53,951 --> 00:50:55,211

So I'm Nicky.

:

00:50:55,481 --> 00:50:58,571

Where can our listeners find

out more about your work or

:

00:50:58,571 --> 00:50:59,951

to follow your gorgeous gang?

:

00:51:00,687 --> 00:51:04,977

Nicky Hammel: So I have a

Facebook page, which is opi d

:

00:51:04,977 --> 00:51:10,197

din, so that's O-P-I-E-D-X, dins.

:

00:51:10,497 --> 00:51:10,827

That's my

:

00:51:10,871 --> 00:51:11,321

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:51:11,697 --> 00:51:16,767

Nicky Hammel: And then I've got

a website, which is www.opax.co

:

00:51:16,767 --> 00:51:17,307

uk.

:

00:51:18,251 --> 00:51:19,841

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, and they can reach out to you

:

00:51:19,841 --> 00:51:24,316

if they wanna get a, a new gorgeous

Dexy puppy or join your waiting list,

:

00:51:24,867 --> 00:51:25,977

Nicky Hammel: Oh, absolutely.

:

00:51:25,977 --> 00:51:26,247

Yeah.

:

00:51:26,247 --> 00:51:29,727

I mean, our waiting list for this

year and next year is already open.

:

00:51:30,726 --> 00:51:31,076

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: right.

:

00:51:31,392 --> 00:51:34,452

Nicky Hammel: so, you know, if anyone is

looking for a part and they want to join

:

00:51:34,452 --> 00:51:36,552

a waiting list, absolutely get in touch.

:

00:51:36,822 --> 00:51:40,422

But also as well, you know, if, if

there's anybody sort of listening

:

00:51:40,422 --> 00:51:44,492

that's struggling with any element

of their Dixon's behaviour,

:

00:51:45,181 --> 00:51:45,641

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

:

00:51:46,002 --> 00:51:49,092

Nicky Hammel: like I said, you

know, don't suffer in silence, reach

:

00:51:49,331 --> 00:51:49,691

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

:

00:51:49,752 --> 00:51:52,452

Nicky Hammel: you know, I'm more

than happy to, to help anyone.

:

00:51:52,452 --> 00:51:54,492

So yeah, feel free to get in contact.

:

00:51:55,211 --> 00:51:55,571

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Brilliant.

:

00:51:55,571 --> 00:51:58,181

They can just get in touch with

all your website or on Facebook.

:

00:51:58,181 --> 00:51:58,391

Yeah.

:

00:51:58,722 --> 00:52:00,912

Nicky Hammel: Yeah,

Eva is absolutely fine.

:

00:52:01,706 --> 00:52:02,736

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh brilliant.

:

00:52:02,736 --> 00:52:09,176

So do reach out to Nicky Nicky

Hammel one of our breed specialists.

:

00:52:09,386 --> 00:52:14,246

It's been fantastic talking

to you about the danne today.

:

00:52:14,936 --> 00:52:19,226

Thank you for joining me on the

Yappy Hour powered by Yappily.

:

00:52:19,616 --> 00:52:23,306

It's been a great conversation

and we will chat again soon.

:

00:52:23,937 --> 00:52:24,777

Nicky Hammel: Thank you for having me.

:

00:52:24,777 --> 00:52:25,587

It's been lovely.

:

00:52:26,336 --> 00:52:27,086

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Thank you.

:

00:52:28,852 --> 00:52:28,972

Nicky Hammel: I.

:

00:52:31,257 --> 00:52:33,917

What's a brilliant

episode with Nicky Hammel.

:

00:52:34,077 --> 00:52:36,897

Here are just a few of the

takeaways from our chat today.

:

00:52:37,107 --> 00:52:41,067

Number 1D sounds are bold,

bright, and deeply sensitive.

:

00:52:41,307 --> 00:52:45,237

Understanding their emotional world

is the key to supporting them.

:

00:52:45,862 --> 00:52:50,392

Number two, common struggles like

barking or reactivity, often stem from

:

00:52:50,392 --> 00:52:53,212

fear or frustration, not naughtiness.

:

00:52:53,542 --> 00:52:58,102

Number three, early support enrichment

and positive training can make a world of

:

00:52:58,102 --> 00:53:00,472

difference for both puppies and adults.

:

00:53:00,832 --> 00:53:04,672

Number four, responsible breeding

plays a huge role in setting

:

00:53:04,672 --> 00:53:06,952

up dogs for a lifelong success.

:

00:53:07,472 --> 00:53:09,327

Nicky, thank you so much for joining me.

:

00:53:09,702 --> 00:53:13,392

Today and for being such a brilliant

voice for this amazing little breed.

:

00:53:13,722 --> 00:53:16,572

If you'd like to learn more about

Nicky's work, be sure to check

:

00:53:16,572 --> 00:53:20,952

her out on social media and follow

along with her fabulous Dashan GaN.

:

00:53:21,702 --> 00:53:24,612

If you enjoyed this episode,

don't forget to leave a review.

:

00:53:24,852 --> 00:53:29,862

Share it with a fellow dog lover

and sub and subscribe so you never

:

00:53:29,862 --> 00:53:32,112

miss an episode of the Yappy Hour.

:

00:53:32,562 --> 00:53:35,382

Thanks for listening, and

I'll see you next time.

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