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A Northumberland dog lover says she has the perfect solution for “hair pulling” owners to train their pet pooches.
Eve Jones, 36, has traded her mental health nurse career for her entrepreneurial life after inventing a simple product she believes can help increase obedience, reduce anxiety, and bond between dogs and to improve their people.
The dog training device Bonus for the mother of two by Cramlington is a small plastic dispenser that enables dog owners to give their pets a small amount of soft food as a treat when they are on the go.
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Reusable and easy to clean, Eve says the product is eco-friendly and can be filled with healthy treats, making it easy for dog owners to closely monitor what their pet is eating.
The product can be filled with wet dog food, dog pie, pureed or pureed vegetables or bananas, or a variety of other dog-safe foods. Both the type of treats and the way they are administered make them attractive to dogs, which means they can be a more effective training tool than dry treats, she says.
She decided to make the product herself after struggling to find something similar while training her cocker spaniel Mave.
She said, “I was concerned about all of the additives in dry dog treats and was struggling to keep Mave’s interest in them. They reacted to and foods I knew were in them.
“I couldn’t find anything, so I used sandwich bags of peanut butter and stuck my fingers in for her to lick. I talked to other people who used similar methods, things they’d come up with in their kitchens – a lot of dog owners have after wanted something like that. “
Eve Jones invented the product after struggling to find something similar for her own pet
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
The dispensers, which are attached to a lanyard that can be attached to a belt or leash, are designed in colors that can be seen by dogs, so the promise of reward is always visible and the trainer is more focused on every training activity.
It might be a simple solution, but Eve believes it could make a huge difference to many dog owners.
She said, “Given the boom in new dogs and puppies from the lockdown, there are many owners who have difficulty training their dogs, especially those struggling with separation anxiety.
“There are people who pull their hair out and I think working with Bonus can help.
“The response has been fantastic. When people see it in action it’s instantly ‘I understand how to use it’, it’s very simple, I have a little boy who uses it with our dog all the time.”
As a former mental health nurse, Eve now devotes her time to selling her new product. But she says her previous experiences with people feed into her new job.
“I think dog mental health is talked about a lot more,” she said.
Eve says her Cocker Spaniel Mave loves to use her invention
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
“A dog’s behavior has a reason, it is often anxiety and stress, and using bonus can help alleviate this.
“Licking is a self-soothing mechanism for a dog, and it gets close to its owner for the treat as well. Mave recently had her first haircut and Bonus helped ease her anxiety. “
And since spending time with animals also helps improve human mental health, the improved bonding with your four-legged friend could even help your well-being, Eve added.
The bonus costs £ 6.99 per donor and can be purchased at https://www.bonusdogtreat.com/.
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