Health benefits of caring for your dog

New Year is often a time when people think about their health and resolutions whether it’s to go to the gym or start a diet. But what’s often overlooked is the health benefit of having a dog in your home.

These benefits go far beyond what may first spring to mind such as going outside and walking, but this is still the most obvious way of how caring for our dogs leads to caring for our bodies and health. The daily walk with your dog is crucial for its level of exercise but did you know that walking just 15 minutes every day can extend your life by as much as 3 years.[1]

Something you might not have thought about is what owning a dog can do for your social life. Whether you've met people out on your dog walk or sparked up a conversation with fellow dog lovers, your dog opens up your world to other people with similar interests.

There’s a good reason why our beloved dogs are known as man’s best friend and that’s because they provide companionship like other pets and animals may not do as well. This companionship is often overlooked as a health benefit but it is more noticeable with people who spend a lot of time on their own or the elderly. Dogs can fill an emptiness with love and purpose that without could have negative health effects on the vulnerable.

Dog ownership obviously brings with it a large amount of responsibility and commitments. You don’t necessarily have to own a dog to gain these benefits as many charities are often looking for puppy walkers or dog foster families.

Here at Home from Home Dog Boarding, our carers welcome dogs into their homes when their owners go away. In addition to the health benefits of having dogs around, our carers provide 24/7 care for your dog as if it was their own.

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[1] http://www.bupa.com.au/health-and-wellness/infographics/walking

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. 

Are You Considering Becoming a Dog Boarder?

You may have come across the term “dog boarding” and wondered what it actually referred to.

Essentially, dog boarding is when a person temporarily “adopts” a dog as their own while the owner is away; maybe on a business trip, on holiday, or if they are poorly.

Whereas kennels are often avoided because animals can become restless there, argue with other dogs, and get less exercise as there are so many dogs to look after - a dog boar

der looks after a pet as if it is their own. Dog boarders take care of pets in their own house; feeding them, playing with them, and nurturing them. This is why dog boarding is considered such an attractive alternative to kennels.

Pet owners use dog home boarding companies such as Home From Home because we are dedicated to only putting dogs into the homes of people who are experienced and trustworthy with a great love of dogs.

By putting your pet in the hands of a Home from Home dog carer you can feel completely relaxed while you and your dog are separated, knowing that they are being lovingly looked after.

While there are many obvious benefits to the owner (and pet), what are the advantages for somebody who chooses to become a dog carer?

Temporary Relationship

It might be that you have loved owning a dog in the past but are not in a position to have the responsibility of one at present. In other words you might be passionate about dogs and even miss the love, fun, and affection that they bring. However, you may often be away from home or do not have the finances to meet veterinary costs etc.

By becoming a dog boarder you can experience the joy of having a pet again with the responsibilities of feeding, walking, and caring for it - but without the long-term commitment of owning one.

Earn Money

Dog boarding is a pleasant way to earn money from home. If you are fully retired you might want to earn some extra money for doing something that you really enjoy. Looking after a dog in your own home is a fun job for which earning an income will seem like an added bonus.

Social Life

Other than the relationship between owner and pet, many dog owners enjoy the friendships that being a dog walker brings. Getting out in the open air is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people who share your love of animals.

Exercise

As well as affection, every dog has the more practical requirement of exercise. Looking after a pet means regular walks in the open air to keep them fit. Dog walking is a brilliant exercise for you. Most of the time you will not even realise that you are doing exercise; you will be too busy having fun playing catch or running around with your new friend. Dog walking burns a lot of calories so you will notice a difference in your personal fitness.

Family Trial

If you have young children then they will probably have already asked you if they can have a pet. It is natural for children to want to have something that they can love and play with. One of the reasons that parents hesitate to give their child a pet is the fear that children will get bored or reject the responsibility that comes with having one.

The dogs at Home from Home are house-trained, calm, non-aggressive pets. Boarding is an opportunity for your children to understand the reality of owning an animal.

They will learn that animals need to be looked after carefully. Children can learn the responsibilities that come with pets such as remembering when they need feeding and taking them out for exercise even when you are not really in the mood.

Many parents consider dog boarding a good way of trialling whether a new pet is suitable for the family and teaching children life lessons about responsibility. It might be a sad moment, but it is also a way for them to learn how to say goodbye to a pet when the boarding comes to an end.

Home from Home was set up in 1996 and was the first dog boarding agency in the UK. We are based throughout London, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and provide 24-hour support to all of our carers.

If you think that you would like to become a carer please complete the application form, or if you have any questions please contact us on 01932 568 584.