The bucket list for dogs

It’s a heartbreaking reality that as a dog owner you are likely to outlive your four legged friend. The average lifespan of a dog depends on the breed and background with the average being 13 years. However, this can vary dramatically such as Bulldogs who average 9 years and Chihuahuas that average 17.

Every moment we have with our pets is important and must be treasured, like this dog owner did when he found out his dog had two inoperable tumours. Dog bucket lists are becoming increasingly popular for dog owners even though the experience may be more for yourself, there is no reason why this should detract from the thought of spending time with your dog.

We've come up with some ideas and activities you can do as part of your pet’s bucket list.

Road Trip
Just like the article that inspired this blog post, take your dog on a trip to places it’s never been before. Take a trip to Scotland and Wales and make it a cross country journey. If you’re going to be driving for long intervals why not check out our previous blog about preparing your dog for a car journey. 

Delicious Dinner
Spend some more time and money on your dog’s food. Maybe once a week buy a high quality organic meal that your dog can enjoy. If you’re really feeling adventurous you could try making and preparing home-made treats for your dog. There are plenty of recipes online for you to choose from. 

Swimming
Admittedly, this is not the easiest one to do if you live inland but if you are making a trip to a seaside resort, let your dog paddle in the sea or in the lake. Alternatively, on a warm day fill up a paddling pool with water, we’re sure your dog would like to spend the afternoon jumping in and out of it. 

Pamper session 
Whether you’re a fan of dog salons or not, it could be the treat your dog needs to relax from a simple trim to a complete makeover your dog is bound to come out feeling refreshed.

Of course, we know that you understand your dog better than we do and you shouldn't put pressure on them to take part in activities that they are unable to do.

If you have any more suggestions in what you have done or would like to do with your pets as they become older than share them with us here or on our Facebook page.

Preparing your dog for a long road trip

Summer is fast approaching, and as more and more of us choose to stay firmly seated in the UK during the summer months rather than fly abroad, our beloved pets can come with us.

In 2014, twenty eight per cent of dog owners took their dog on holiday with them. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a stay over somewhere, you must think careful about the journey and how your four legged friends will cope.

View image | gettyimages.com

Before you go:

Take your dog on a long walk before the journey even begins. If time is not on your side at least encourage a run round the garden whilst you’re doing last minute preparations.

If you’re considering using a crate or carrier, make sure your dog is content with being inside it before you go. Encourage your pet to enter the cage of its own free will and then practice locking the door and returning at intervals. This will help your dog adjust to being separated and learn to not fear being inside the cage or carrier.

It’s important that during this, your body language is positive from the very beginning to introducing the carrier, to checking up on your dog and talking to your dog as well.

Also make sure that there’s nothing that could cause any harm to your dog during transit. This could be choking hazards such as leads and collars to small items.

Bring along comforting toys so your dog is more relaxed such as a blanket or its favourite chewable toy.

On the road:

By containing your dog in the boot section of your car, either with a cage or harness, you will be less distracted. Less distractions cause for a safe journey. More importantly, in an emergency situation your dog is also safer the more secured they are into the car.

Dogs can get motion sickness, therefore you should take this into consideration before feeding your pet before a trip. If you feel that your dog could be hungry, take a break from the drive and feed your dog a snack and allow your dog to move around.

Make sure that your car is at a comfortable temperature and don’t leave your dog in the car unattended.

After the Trip:

Stretch your dog’s legs and your own. Go for a long walk and make sure your dog has a long enough opportunity to spend pent up energy. 

Why can't dogs eat chocolate?

Easter has been and gone and most of us have eaten our fair share of chocolate but there’s one member of the family who can’t join in the same way – our dogs. Of course there are alternatives including a chocolate that is safe for dogs and other pets to eat.

There is often a concern around Easter with pets and chocolate as it is often left in easy to reach places and at times there can be a large amount of chocolate sat in your home at once. But why is it that dogs and other animals can’t indulge on this treat like we do?

Well you might be interested to know that chocolate contains a toxic chemical known as Theobromine which can be poisonous to not just dogs but us as well.

However, processed chocolate has a reduced amount of this toxin than the pure Cocoa bean. This means that the chocolate we consume is safe but there is still a potential risk of serious side effects if consumed in high quantities.

Other animals however digest and process Theobromine at a much slower rate than we do and can easily consume enough chocolate to result in poisoning. The fat and sugar that’s found in most chocolates could also cause potential pancreatitis.

How to know if your dog has eaten chocolate:

Sometimes a lack of evidence is the clearest explanation. Did you have chocolate in an accessible place and it’s no longer there and no one else could have taken it? Safe to say, the dog probably got to it. There are various signs and symptoms that your dog may display if they have eaten too much chocolate:

• ·         vomiting
• ·         diarrhoea
• ·         dehydration
• ·         increased urination
• ·         hyperactive behaviour
• ·         whining
• ·         seizures
• ·         rapid heart rate
• ·         muscular spasms
• ·         excessive panting
• ·         digestive problems

Take your dog to the vet immediately if you are worried for your dog’s health.  Unfortunately, chocolate poisoning is life-threatening and requires immediate attention.

Always remember to keep chocolate and other toxic items in an unreachable, inaccessible location or lock it away. 

Inspired by Crufts?

Are you a regular watcher or attendee of Crufts? There’s nothing more rewarding then spending time training your dog.

The agility course is always one of the most memorable parts of dog competitions. It’s not just about whether they can complete the obstacles but how they respond to the trainers commands as well.

Your aim might not be to compete at Crufts 2016 but there are a frequent agility tests in village / town shows and festivals in your local area. There may also be dog agility courses in your area if you are interested in participating in competitions.

The first stage is to encourage your dog to jump before tackling any other obstacle. You will need to stay stocked on treats as well of course.  You will find that your dog will love trying to understand how to get the reward.

In competitions your dog must be off lead and have no form on incentives to finish the tasks and obstacles.  It is just your voice, gestures and body language that will help provide guidance and motivation to complete the course.

Also courses must be complex enough that the dog cannot complete the course in order without the aid of its trainer so the obstacles are strategically placed. As such, the dog may have to do u-turns and go back on itself that it would otherwise not do.

Some of the most common tasks are, hurdles, tire jumps, pause boxes, tunnels, dog walk, A frame, see-saw and more.

Ideally your dog should also be obedient and able to follow simple commands first which can help bring control to your whole training session.

Whether you’re looking to train your dog in order to compete or looking to spend some time in the garden with your pet, you and your dog can have fun completing little obstacles at home.

The Dog Days

We have all heard of the phrase ‘dog days’ and more recently because of Florence and the Machines hit song ‘The dog days are over’. But what are dog days?

Dog days refers to the sultry days of summer and are used to describe frequently those that occur in July and August as these are our hottest months.

It is thought that the term originated during the Roman period where the brightest star in the summer sky (Sirius) was visible. This star is part of the Canis Major constellation AKA Large Dog constellation.

In general it is believed that hot tiresome days are called dog days as when it is particularly hot, dogs are described as being lethargic and inactive or quite possibly the opposite as being mad.
So what can you do to keep your dog cool during hot days?

1. Keep your dog’s water bowl full.

This may seem obvious but it’s important that your dog always has access to water. If you are going out without your dog then make sure that there are multiple bowls available or maybe just a larger bowl than usual.

2. Cool bath.

Make sure your dog has the ability to cool its body quickly by providing access to a water bath. If you have a garden it may be possible to leave the sprinkler on or if you have a small outdoor area whether a balcony or courtyard you can fill a large tub with water.

3. Remember to give your dog a haircut.

Trimming the fur on your dog before it begins to get too hot is ideal for help them cool down. We wouldn’t wear our winter clothes during summer so neither should your dog.

4. Lay a damp towel down.

Use a damp towel to help cool your dog, whether it is placed on the ground to cool their paws or wrapped around them to cool their body. Dogs cool from the bottom up so a cool towel on the floor is a great idea.

Pay special attention to your dog during the dog days of summer and call your vet if you are worried about your dog’s responses.

 At Home for Home dog boarding, we vet all our dog carers to see if they meet our requirements so you know that when you use our service your dog is getting the best care possible no matter the weather.

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.

---

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

Gifts for dogs this Christmas

If your family is staying together this Christmas make sure your favourite four-legged friends have something to unwrap on the big day.  We can’t all have flying reindeer like Santa Claus but our loyal companions are special in their own way.

Home from Home Dog Boarding has provided a run-down of Christmas gift ideas for your pet whether you’re together or apart this year.

Friday 12 December is national Christmas jumper day and what’s to stop your dog from joining in with the fun? There are many on the market to fit dogs of all shapes and sizes. Better yet, knitting patterns are available if you feel like presenting your pet with a home-made gift this year. Perhaps you could create matching sweaters for the entire family – dogs included.

If you really wanted a reindeer in the house to feel more festive, then there’s always the novelty route. Antlers and elf hats are widely available to make your pet look like they came straight from Santa’s grotto.

Of course there’s the walk. We might not want to leave our cosy homes but a good walk can work up the appetite for the inevitable Christmas dinner bellies we’ll all be wearing that day. A new toy will entertain your dog while you’re struggling to remember what it felt like to have fingers.

For many of us the best part of Christmas day is the dinner; roast turkey and all the trimmings. Our dogs should have a luxurious dinner too. We understand that pet food can be an expensive choice but 

Christmas only happens once a year so maybe spend a little extra on a special dinner for your pet. We’re sure they’ll know the difference.

Our idea of a treat is perhaps a box of chocolates or a cheeky sherry and luckily for us we can’t share these with our pooches. They would much rather have rawhide chews which can come in a variety of Christmas designs such as snowmen and penguins.

If you’re dog is with one of our dog carers this Christmas, make sure you pack them a present for them to open at Christmas. If they’re lucky maybe their carer has got them one as well!

Contact us today if you need to book for dog boarding over the Christmas holidays.

Img source: http://goo.gl/GGWRes