Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Puppy fat

‘The diet starts on Monday’.

These words seem to echo around every office in the country. In fact, us humans are slightly obsessed by diets and exercise plans.

But we’re not suffering alone, because pet obesity in the UK is a growing problem according to a survey by PDSA.

According to the survey, ‘tubby’ pets are now seen as normal, and many owners even think that their chubby dogs are more cute and cuddly than their healthier counterparts.

But, just like humans, pets who are overweight will suffer from health issues and they may have their life expectancy cut short.

It’s worth checking with the vet what your dog’s ideal weight is. If you find out that they are slightly overweight, then get advice on the best diet for your dog.

And definitely don’t wait until Monday.

Overcoming those obstacles

If your dog is anything like mine, when they’re out on a walk, it’s a challenge to even get them to walk the right way around a lamppost.

The result is a very confused dog pulling away at a lead which is wrapped several times around the post.

But it seems, this is not a problem Kenny Spottiswoode has had to deal with. Because his four year old dog Nike recently won the Pedigree Highland Agility Stakes final held at the Scottish Game Fair in Scone.

The Dundee trainer has been training and competing with dogs for almost ten years and he says that the secret to dog agility and training is to have lots of fun. He says that the best way to train is by doing two training sessions a week for five minutes at a time.

Kenny also stressed that the most important thing is to create a strong bond with your dog so that they enjoy the training.

Nike was required to tackle an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels and seesaws during the competition. It sounds like a big challenge to me. I think me and my dog will start off by mastering that lamppost.

Feeling hot, hot, hot

As the weather hots up this summer, the ice-cream vans are out in force. But before we run out and order that 99 with a flake, it’s really important to make sure that our dogs are kept hydrated.

It’s all very well us humans going out and enjoying the weather, but spare a thought for your four legged friend whilst you’re out sunning yourself.

There have been a few dog deaths recently as a result of careless people leaving them in cars. And it has even been reported that two police dogs have died after being left in a hot vehicle outside the force headquarters.

Lessons must be learnt from this. So before you run off to that ice-cream van, just make sure that your furry friend is in a cool, comfortable place, with plenty of water. Then you can sit back, relax and enjoy that 99…perhaps even with an extra flake!

The importance of Service Lifts

People are generally negligent when it comes to looking after their pets – especially dogs – and don’t go that extra bit to look after their pet dog from every angle.

Many people think this is not even needed as dogs are only animals. This, of course is wrong and every step should be taken to ensure your pets and well looked after and nothing day in day out should be and object of harm from any aspect of the animal.

One area where many people lack are in large corporate buildings where dogs are not allowed in the service lifts and so, make them run up and down 30 floors many times in one day.

Some may argue (just to get away with it) it’s good exercise but we know this is not the case.

My main point today is that it’s against the law and against animal rights that your pet is not looked after too well.

One way to solve this issue it to install service lifts that are specially made and designed for dogs and other similar animals. By doing so, you will not only follow the law and make animal rights people happy, you will also look after the being of your pet.

Keep you dog warm for the winter

There are many instances of stories and situations where many pets have been known to have died.

From amongst these, there are two instances which appear frequently:

1. Pets and Animals are left in a vehicle in the hot summer months for a couple of hours. As the heat continues to increase, it becomes a bit too much for the Animal by which it takes their life.
2. In the cold winter months, home animals and pets are left out the house or in a very cold room where, as above, becomes a bit too cold for their beings to handle and thus, they face the same fate as above.

Keep your dog away from slugs

Slugs and snails are common in the UK thanks to our unfortunately climate, but not only are these pests a garden nightmare they can also cause a potentially fatal disease for your dog.

If your dogs eats slugs or snails, either deliberately or accidentally, then you should be careful.  They can carry a lungworm infection that leads to angiostrongylosis, the potentially fatal disease.

A vet in Southend, Mr Richardson, said:

“It is something that is more of an emerging condition.  We are seeing more of it than we used to. It has become a bigger problem in the South East because the climate here is a bit warmer which helps the slugs and snails do well.”

Symptoms Read the rest of this entry »

No human chocolate for dogs this Easter

Well it’s just one week off Easter and as usual I’m being torn apart by my love for chocolate on one hand and my desire to lose weight on the other.  Still, it won’t stop me eating at least one Easter egg next Sunday!

As I highlighted last year, I feel the need to remind people that dogs should never be given human chocolate no matter how much those puppy eyes stare at you, willing you to give them some.

Particularly those who are new to dog ownership, they often Read the rest of this entry »

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

I often think it’s a shame that more people don’t do enough to help support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.  Don’t get me wrong, I think dogs to support blind people are fabulous, but they get a lot of publicity and as more people are aware of them they get a lot of funding too, yet hearing dogs don’t seem to get as much.

I recently read an article talking about how the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People charity is appearing on April 25th at the Whitegift shopping centre in Croydon to raise awareness Read the rest of this entry »

Dog loses half body weight

An overweight dog is an unsightly dog in my opinion as it means they are suffering.  To many dog owners though, it apparently means they love them.

Recent research has shown that one third of dog owners admit they give their dogs too many treats and about the same admit that a lack of exercise is probably contributing to the problem.  If you can’t keep your dog healthy then you don’t deserve one!  In fact, this research also showed that two thirds Read the rest of this entry »

Dogs and dining tables do not mix

Last weekend, I visited a friend that I haven’t seen for some time.  She and her partner own a bulldog, which I hate.  It’s not that I hate bulldogs you understand, in fact I quite like them and even considered purchasing one once, but it’s her bulldog I don’t like.

The dog has been ruined by its owners.  I tried to sit down to drink a cup of tea with my friend, which proved impossible because the dog would insist on trying to jump all over me.  My friend made some meagre attempt to get the dog away but it is perfectly apparent who the leader of the pack is in that household – and it is not human.

But the thing that really gets me is actually the brand new oak dining table that she has recently purchased.  It is absolutely gorgeous – as dining tables go – and yet she still allows the dog to eat at the table.  Yes, I did actually say that – the dog sits and eats at the table.

Anyway, to get on with my story, my friend was complaining about the dog and how she was so misbehaved.  The dog had jumped up on this brand new oak dining table (you can see here the type I mean) and so the table was now scratched.  My friend was seriously perplexed about how and why this could have happened.  Try bringing your dog up properly, training her properly and not letting her sit at the table in the first place!