What is kennel cough?

If you’ve ever considered leaving your dog in kennels while you are away or on holiday than you must have seen the term kennel cough come up. Although often not a serious condition, the virus is airborne and is highly contagious.

To give it its proper name, Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis (bordetella) is an upper respiratory infection that affects only dogs. Symptoms usually appear after a within a week and can include a dry cough, retching, sneezing, snorting, gagging or vomiting and in very rare cases can result in a fever. It is even more likely to affect young puppies, older dogs and those with weak immune systems.

As it is spread very easily amongst dogs it is commonly picked up at kennels and shelters hence being commonly known as ‘kennel cough’. It’s important to take note of this when fostering dogs or adopting dogs from shelters, though many would delay the adoption process until the illness has passed.

There are vaccines available that should be administered after a dog enters a high risk situation such as a shelter to prevent symptoms developing. If you think your dog may already have kennel cough it is wise to keep your dog away from others during this time.

The infection will resolve by itself more often than not but it can be helped along with the use of antibiotics that are available from your local veterinary practice.

A great alternative to kennels is to use a dog boarding service. Here at Home From Home we find your dog the perfect carer to look after their needs whilst you’re away even if your dog requires specific medicines or treatment. We also invite you to have meeting together before hand so you can see if they are suitable for your dog. Get in touch with us today if you are looking for someone to take care of your pet whilst you’re away this autumn.

Halloween, Bonfire Night and your dog

We’re already in the midst of Autumn, with darker night’s drawing in and the cooler chill already present, before we know it our streets will be filled with spooktacular goings on, our homes furnished with festive treats and our skies illuminated with fireworks.

Halloween and Bonfire night are both a time of fun, frolics and festivities but while these may be fun moments for us, they aren't always for our canine companions with the chance of bringing some hazards and anxieties for your pooch.

In order to help you avoid Halloween howling and firework fears, Home From Home Dog Boarding have put together some hints and tips to keep your dog comfortable and safe at this time of year.

All Hallows Eve

Costumes

For many of us, Halloween is all about getting dressed up in something cute or scary ready to go out trick or treating. If you are hosting a Halloween party or planning on taking your pooch out trick or treating with the family this October 31^st then spare a few minutes for your pet before you pick out that costume.

Are they likely to be uncomfortable as this can cause agitation and anxiety? Some costumes may also have hanging attachments which can easily be removed by your dog so ensure that loose parts are secured to maximise safety and always read the packaging to ensure that your chosen costume is entirely animal friendly.

Decorations

Planning on putting up hanging ornaments or ghouslish decorations around your home? Many of these objects are hazardous and could easily obstruct a dog’s airway if swallowed. Small parts of costumes, candles and hanging decorations such as fake webs, party streamers and balloons can all be tempting things to play with for a dog.

Avoid any unwanted scares by keeping all of these firmly out of the easy reach of your dog.

Tricks and Treats

It is likely that you will be expecting some scary visitors so will have a trick and treat bowls lying about. Chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs and can cause poisoning, vomiting and seizures so keep any treats out of the easy reach of your pooch.

Consider buying in some special dog specific chocolate treats so that he or she doesn't feel left out.

Pumpkins

We all love to carve a good pumpkin and pop in a candle to show off our spooky designs, but make sure that your dog can’t reach it.  Although relatively non-toxic, when ingested in large doses pumpkin can cause stomach upsets for dogs.

Guy Fawkes Night

Safe den

Many pets will not react well to the scares that unexpected fireworks can bring as loud noises can often bring on anxiety.

Preparation is the key, so ensuring that you have provided a safe space for your dog to hide behind to encourage the feeling of safety will help. Try and introduce this place before firework season with their blankets or beds and some comforting chews.

Calming

There are many herbal medications available when Bonfire night fireworks are in full swing and produce a pheromone which can relax dogs. If your dog is naturally more prone to anxiety then consult your vet prior to purchasing or administering any form of medication.

Dog walks

It is a good idea to take your dog for a long walk, while it is still like, prior to the fireworks starting. This will not only tire your dog out but ensure that they are more tired out and less likely to get worked up – perhaps, if you’re lucky they will even sleep through them.

Home From Home Dog Boarding provide comprehensive dog caring, dog sitting services while you are away from home and will carefully match your pet to our network of carers across the UK.

To find out more about our dog boarding service please click here or contact us today to discuss your requirements.

Top viral dogs

They’ve been man’s best friend for more than 30,000 years and our extended furry family members that we all love no matter how big or small, but they still have the capacity to surprise us, learning new things every day and adapting to changes very quickly.

Dogs, they are the heart of a home and family and can be the subject of many memories. More recently such adaptations, funny moments and their surprises have been documented with the arrival of viral videos.

Here, we at Home From Home take a look at some of our top picks of Dogs that have gone viral.

#1 Spider Dog



In advance of Halloween, one man and his dog, in Poland, decided to roam the streets scaring the wits out of strangers. Dressed as a giant tarantula, Sylwester Wardega’s dog Chica, has managed to gain more than 80 million views online since his video was first posted at the beginning of this month and amassed a huge two million views in just 24 hours. 

#2 Fenton

Taking place in Richmond Park, London, one Labrador called Fenton decides to take a very close interest in the deer of the park, scaring his owner as he chases the creatures out of the park and onto the road.

A cameraman is innocently filming the majestic deer of the park until the lens catches the commotion of the deer being chased followed by a dog and then his owner shouting the dog’s name followed by ‘Jesus Christ’ – causing drivers to stop on the busy road, Fenton just keeps running.

#3 Mishka

Featuring talking Husky, Mishka who tells her owners that she loves them, this clip gives dog owners world-wide that little bit of hope that dogs really can understand us and love us too! The prized pooch went on to have her own Facebook page building up her own celebrity following with further hit Youtube videos featuring her speaking sentences, saying ‘Good Morning’ and releasing her own song.

#4 Huskies crawling

What’s cuter, a baby? A crawling baby? Or a baby crawling, accompanied by crawling huskies? The answer lies in the clip above. Featuring two Siberian huskies mimicking a baby, this clip walks the line between adorable and silly. But with a combination of two very cute creatures it is the perfect viral video.

#5 Portland pug

Pushing her Nintendog stuffed Pug puppies, Jenny a pug from Portland has become an internet viral hit as she pushes a toy stroller around her hometown of Portland, Oregon, USA. Amassing more than one million hits this clip borders on the absurd, but has turned her into an internet hit with her own Twitter and web page.

#6 Well trained dog?

Three-year-old trained Border Collie, Jumpy became a viral hit after performing 25 different tricks in two minutes but in this clip he returned playing ball with his owner, showcasing an excellent amount of discipline and restraint.

Communicating the overwhelming amount of trust that Jumpy has in his owner as well as a smart ability to remember and recall. We think Jump could be a contender for one of the most well trained dogs around.

#7 Dolphin impressions

Bruce the 18-month-old Boston Terrier changed the perception of dogs being known for fetch and cuddles, perfecting the art of imitation when he couldn’t contain his excitement after spotting another dog across the road. It’s unlikely that the impression was intentional but how uncanny is it?

#8 Sprinkler excitement

This bulldog cannot get enough of his garden sprinkler, even going as far as to take a tumble to reach the water shoot. But that doesn’t stop the confused pooch, who can’t decide if he is excited or scared by it, and continues to jump and run in any attempt to catch the water shoot.

Why not share your pups video’s with us?

For all your dog boarding or dog sitting needs, contact Home From Home Boarding Dog Boarding who offer warm, caring, loving homes for your dog while you are away so that you have peace of mind that they are happy. 

Why Dog Boarding Is Nicer for your Dog than Dog Kennels

It is that time of year again when we pack up our things and go on holiday for a stint in the sun. You might just be going away for a week to Europe to lounge by the pool, or you might be on a 3-week tour of the States or the Far East. Wherever you are heading, if you are a dog owner then you will be very much aware of the dilemma that faces everybody: what do we do with our dog? 

If you do not have any friends or family who are able to look after your pet then there are two main options available to you: dog kennels or dog boarding. Dog kennels are probably the better known of these alternatives. A dog kennels is usually a place where lots of dogs stay over the period that you are away. Dog boarding is when your pet stays with somebody who looks after your pet in their own home.

Dog kennels are a lot more common than dog boarding and they are often represented in very different ways. Some dog kennels consider themselves to be the higher end of the spectrum and market themselves as luxury “doggy hotels” where dogs are pampered while their owners are away. However this is not a very accurate description of a dog’s experience in a kennel.

Unfortunately a lot of dog kennels simply provide a small, isolated room for your dog to sit down, eat, and sleep. A common complaint regarding kennels is that the dog often misses out on regular exercise and general socialisation. Some dogs are absolutely fine in this environment but other owners report that their pets do not respond well to this decline in exercise.

A particular problem for rescue dogs, being put temporarily in this sort of environment can rouse old anxieties that owners have worked hard to eliminate. Pets that are used to living in a family home where they are loved and shown a lot of affection may find it especially difficult to adjust to a new atmosphere where they are treated the same as everybody else and maybe not be given the level of attention that they are used to.

Dog boarding is a modern, popular alternative to kennels because your dog is placed into a loving home until you return from your trip. Home from Home ensure that all of the dog boarders who work with them have had enough experience with dogs that they will be capable of looking after yours with a lot of love. The boarders are not allowed to have any cats or dogs of their own which means that there is nobody there for your pet to clash with. 

 

More importantly it means that the person “adopting” your dog for the period is able to dedicate all of their time to your pet. Whereas a kennel might contain lots of dogs all of who compete for the attention of the people in charge; the person (or family) who your pet is boarding with will only be looking after your dog.

If you are interested in becoming a dog boarder or if you would like to arrange to have your dog looked after in time for your holiday, call Home from Home on 01932 568584.