Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Halloween Pup - belated!

halloween pumpkin dog costume outfit orange green leaf hat border terrier cross poodle dog puppy pooch

halloween pumpkin dog costume outfit orange green leaf hat border terrier cross poodle dog puppy pooch

Hey guys

I realise this is a little belated and some of you won't be very interested, but for those of you that are, look at my little pumpkin on Halloween a couple of weeks ago!  Admittedly she has had the same costume since she was a puppy (she is now 5.5 years) but it still fits her (other than needing a safety pin to extend the waistband haha) and I always find it adorable.  It is always a hit when the trick or treaters come to the door.

I hope my little piece of happiness brings you a smile today :0)


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Thursday, 4 September 2014

Dogs funny reactions to going through a car wash!

Hey Guys

Check out my latest video over on my YouTube channel, it is of my beloved pooch going through the car wash with me and her cute ears circulating around picking up each different sound.  Then at the end she decides it is boring and sleeps! Haha.

Hope it is a light hearted little something to cheer up your day or make you smile.



Tuesday, 2 September 2014

Dog Life Jacket - Be Prepared!

dog life jacket swim swimming safety

Some people will probably think I'm bonkers, others will completely understand. 

We are off on a little holiday soon to France and are taking our precious pooch with us.
Much to my dismay, our girl has never swum nor ventured unto water above her knees.
I believe it will still be very warm when we go and I would like to hopefully take her on a boat trip and hopefully go swimming with her. 

I know dogs are meant to take to it straight away but I would never forgive myself if I witnessed her struggling or panicking, so to avoid these issues I have got her a life jacket! 

Does your dog use a life jacket? What are your experiences with them?




Thursday, 3 July 2014

Dog Passport - How to get one for your pooch

dog travel france europe pet passport vaccination microchip

dog travel france europe pet passport vaccination microchip

dog travel france europe pet passport vaccination microchip

Today I wanted to talk to you about dog passports and how you get one.

We are taking a driving trip later on this year to France and really wanted to take our pooch with us.  We tend to go on one small holiday a year with her, up until now it has always been to a location in the UK, however this time we are going to brave it and take la chien to la France! 

What is involved I hear you ask?  Well, thankfully the rules changed about a year ago and got a little less complicated and a little easier to follow!  All the information can be found on the Government website but I thought I would lay it out here.

For your pet to travel in Europe they must have:-
  • A pet passport
  • A microchip
  • A rabies vaccination 
  • A tapeworm treatment (for dogs only)
My dog already had a microchip, so I needed to tick the other three boxes.  I made an appointment with my pooches vets and took her in to get her paperwork.  They simply scan her microchip to check it is working, check she has a good bill of health, administer the rabies vaccination which consists of a single injection (poor girl) and fill out the passport paperwork.  Most of the time is in the paperwork. This cost be approximately £90 for the passport and rabies vaccination but I am told if you keep the passport up to date it lasts forever and she will just need rabies boosters every 3 years at a greatly reduced price.

The tapeworn treatment is the last thing I need to sort and is the one bit that scares me.  This needs to be administered to her by a vet in France no less than 24 hours before we are returning to the UK but no earlier than 5 days before we are returning to the UK.  So I must find a vets practice in France that is licenced to do pet passports as they will need to administer the tapeworm treatment and stamp her passport to show she has had it.

I am freaking out about this step a little bit but I think if I am organised and book the appointment at a licenced pet passport vet before we have even gone then nothing should go wrong.  The last thing I want in this world is to get my precious girl stuck in France for 3 months for the sake of a week holiday.  Wish me luck!

I hope this answered any little questions for someone that might be considering doing this at the moment.  That is the way the rules stand.  We are travelling via Le Shuttle (Eurotunnel) and there is a pet passport checking office that you need to go to before you check in at the terminal to leave France.  I am told it is all very well sign posted and not a problem at all.  ARGH, scared now thinking about it...breathe!

Have you taken your pet to France or abroad? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below.

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

How to make a fur and fleece dog / cat double snuggle sack or sleeping bag or bed

dog cat snuggle sack sleeping bag youtube tutorial how to make fur fleece double comfy bed


Hey guys

I have uploaded a new YouTube video! This time it is showing you how to make your own doggy snuggle sack / sleeping bag.  The one I make is big enough for my cat and dog to share but you can adjust the measurements I provide to make your own one possibly smaller or bigger as you need.

You can watch my YouTube tutorial by clicking here.

NB: This tutorial is a sewing tutorial.  I had to hand sew as my machine is broken but if you have a machine it will be A LOT quicker!

If you would like me to write a blog post on how I made the dog snuggle sack then please let me know in the comments below :0)


dog cat snuggle sack sleeping bag youtube tutorial how to make fur fleece double comfy bed
No guys, you are meant to be IN it, not ON it!!


 
Monday, 24 March 2014

LIFESCOUTS:: Pets badge

lifescouts life scouts real experiences adventures dog cat pet pets dogs cats animals owner badge alex day youtube


Those of you who know me will know this is an easy one for me, talking about my pets!
 
I have two very special pets / fur babies in my life, one dog one cat, they go by the name of Ellie and Finley.


lifescouts life scouts real experiences adventures dog cat pet pets dogs cats animals owner badge alex day youtube border terrier cross poodle puppy
Ellie - 8 weeks old


lifescouts life scouts real experiences adventures dog cat pet pets dogs cats animals owner badge alex day youtube border terrier cross poodle puppy
Ellie - 4 years old
Ellie
DOB - 2 June 2009 (4.5 years old)
Breed – Border Terrier cross Poodle
Fur colour – black
Favourite toy – ball
Best trick – “Bang” and she falls down on her back and plays dead

 

Ellie is my diamond girl.  We have had her since she was 8 weeks old and we chose to get her from a reputable breeder that was KC registered.  I know a lot of people will say you should rescue not buy a puppy, but for both of us, Ellie was our first dog so we wanted to start fresh as we didn’t really know what we were doing.  If we were to ever get another dog, now that I have had her and trained her for over 4.5 years I would certainly feel comfortable looking into rescuing a puppy next time round.
 
We had the pick of the litter with Ellie, there were two boys and five girls in the litter. We knew we wanted a girl straight away so that narrowed it down to 5 of the pups.  My husband had a curly haired pooch snuggling up to him and I ended up hugging Ellie (the only straight haired pup of the litter). We took these two inside the ladies house and played with them both a little bit more.  After a while, the curly one my husband had held wanted to get back to its brothers and sisters and had grown tired of us, whereas Ellie was still by us and wanting attention.  We like to think that Ellie chose us, rather than the other way round.
 
Since that day we have never looked back.  Ellie is a hugely important part of our family and we like to have a mini-break once a year where we take her on holiday with us.  We have always taken her training.  She started off going to puppy training, and we progressed through the classes with her and she used to do agility.  She has also been awarded The Kennel Club Good Citizens Award in both Bronze and Silver.  Unfortunately, in the last year or so we had to stop taking her as it was held on Sunday mornings and we had a lot of other commitments to keep.  I am certain that once our house renovation is complete I will start taking her back to training again as she really enjoyed it and liked socialising with the other dogs she was very familiar with.  Everyone always comments on how calm and how well behaved she is and I think that is 100% down to the training we have given her.
 
lifescouts life scouts real experiences adventures dog cat pet pets dogs cats animals owner badge alex day youtube bengal cross moggie kitten
Finley - 12 weeks old


lifescouts life scouts real experiences adventures dog cat pet pets dogs cats animals owner badge alex day youtube bengal cross moggie kitten
Finley - 1 year old

Finley
DOB – 3 June 2012 (1.5 years old)
Breed – Bengal cross
Fur colour – brown, tan and white
Favourite toy – cat tree / hairband!
Best trick – Spin, Sit and Paw
 
We got Finley when he was 12 weeks old.  Again, we did buy him as we wanted to get a Bengal and as you can imagine you do not get many Bengal kittens to be rehomed at Cats Protection!  His mum was there to view and she was a beautiful large Bengal.  We can only presume that his dad was a black and white moggie as one of Finley’s sisters was black and white without an ounce of Bengal in them whereas all the others had Bengal markings.  The guy with the kittens had let her out one night without intending her to get pregnant but hey presto, she did!
 
Some of you may remember my post on the DIY 7ft Cat Tree myself and my husband made for Finley a little while ago, if you didn’t see it you can find it here (LINK).  This has really helped him strengthen his claws and let off some steam, he still uses it all the time and it is genuinely the single best thing we have ever got him or in this case made him.  He also likes to sleep on the top platform throughout the day and evening as he really likes being up high to survey the land (this is a Bengal characteristic I am told).
 
Despite what some people think cats or maybe just Bengal’s in particular can be trained!  Lucky for us Finley is very food orientated and so we have been able to teach him spin, sit and paw before he gets his meals.  I am sure there is a lot more we could teach him, it just takes a bit longer for it to click and become habit but he knows those 3 commands now very well.
 
When we got Finley, we also got one of his sisters from the same litter as a present for my parents-in-law.  It was for their Ruby wedding anniversary and they called her Ruby to mark this. 
 
We were actually going to get one for his parents and were not bargaining on coming away with one for ourselves too! I was quite worried that Ellie would not get on with a cat but in the end was hopeful that if the cat knew her from young it would get used to her.  We took Ellie with us and quickly took Finley out to the car to try him out with her, there was a bit of hissing but overall the reaction was quite good so we went for it.
 
The hissing remained for a while but he never went for her.  Nowadays their relationship is still very up and down.  Sometimes he wants to play with her and she acts scared, other times (normally when we have visitors) she wants to play with him and picks on him like she is the boss!  Sometimes he will try to lay with her and she will get up and move away from him, other times she will still and they will cosy up together.  All in all I think it is a love hate relationship!
 
So, yes, that is a (somewhat longer than I had hoped) run down of my family pets.  They make our home complete and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  They will always be our family and they will have a place in our home for their entire life and we shall do all that we can to make sure that they have the best life possible.  I strongly believe pets should be there to enhance your life, we chose to get them and they certainly enhance our life and bring us so much love and joy, they deserve to have that love and joy reciprocated back.
 
What pets do you have?  How did you come about getting them? I would love to read all your pet stories in the comments below so please be sure to write.
 
 
 

 
Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Trip to the Pet Shop

guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys
guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys

guinea pigs gerbils hamsters chinchillas rats rabbits furry animals pets at home pet animal tunnel hay cage wheel running cleaning licking grooming dog clothes collars leads jackets coats jumpers treats food toys



Hey guys 

Bit of a random post from me today but I thought I would share with you my recent trip to the pet shop!  I'm not sure why it has only just dawned on me, but these places really are like a trip to Toys 'r' Us but for your pets (well mostly dogs as you are allowed to take them in) and if most of us are honest for us too.  Toys all shapes and sizes, textures and make a gazillion different sounds.  A clothes section that would give Primark a run for its money and even a pick 'n' mix type section of treats! I don't know about you but I enjoy spending money on my pets and take pleasure seeing them get excited over a new toy or special treat.

I cannot believe the size of the section that is devoted to doggy outfits now! I must admit I partake in the odd (sensible) wooly jumper to keep my pooch warm at the moment as our house is FREEZING but personally I wouldn't stretch to dogs in tutu's and booties, each to their own though.

I love walking around the small furies in their little homes waiting for that special family to come along and (I very much hope) give them a forever home with love and warmth.  They are so sweet and small and curious, I guess much like us when we were younger.  The hamsters always give me a chuckle, especially when they are running so fast in their little wheels that they fall out!

I was happy to see that there was a rehoming/adoption section in this pet shop too.  It had animals that had been brought back or put up for adoption, for whatever reasons, and I hope that people don't discount them and choose to give them a second shot.

I am very pleased that these large retail pet shops no longer sell puppies or kittens and other like animals.  There are plenty out there that need homes so I am glad they are not exacerbating the situation with more.

Anywho, that is me done for now.  I hope you found this unusual blog topic a welcome stray from the norm! :0)

Do you have any pets? If so, what? What is your favourite animal?









Tuesday, 4 February 2014

Dog Games Shop Ltd - Perfect Fit Harness - Dog or Cat or even Pig!

dog games shop ltd perfect fit harness dogs cats pigs tri-paw collar lead fleece lined comfortable

dog games shop ltd perfect fit harness dogs cats pigs tri-paw collar lead fleece lined comfortable

dog games shop ltd perfect fit harness dogs cats pigs tri-paw collar lead fleece lined comfortable

dog games shop ltd perfect fit harness dogs cats pigs tri-paw collar lead fleece lined comfortable

dog games shop ltd perfect fit harness dogs cats pigs tri-paw collar lead fleece lined comfortable

dog games shop ltd perfect fit harness dogs cats pigs tri-paw collar lead fleece lined comfortable

dog games shop ltd perfect fit harness dogs cats pigs tri-paw collar lead fleece lined comfortable
 

Hey there!
 
Today’s post is a review of my pooch’s Perfect Fit Harness that I purchased from Dog Games Shop Ltd.
 
I originally discovered these harnesses and the company whilst at the “Discover Dogs” exhibition at Earls Court in November 2013.  If you live in the UK with ability to get into London, and most importantly LOVE DOGS (like I do) I would highly recommend that you get yourselves some tickets for this fantastic event which is organised by the Kennel Club.  It takes place every year in November at Earls Court, I also went in November 2011.  The exhibition consists of fundamentally 3 parts:
 
1.       Over 200 different breeds of dog all present to be petted, stroked, and you can discuss the different breeds with their owners and learn a lot! Temperaments, originally bred for what reason/job, how to find a good breeder etc. (This is personally my favourite bit!) 
2.       3 arenas with contests and shows happening throughout the weekend.  Agility, flyball, heel work to music, Metropolitan Police Dog display, Kennel Club Good Citizens Scheme etc.
3.       100’s of stalls selling everything you could ever wish for your pooch (my husband’s least favourite part!).  Leads and collars, clothing, beds, treats and food, and a HUGE amount more.
 
All in all this place is doggy heaven for me and I love it every time I go.
 
Anywho, back to the task in hand…
 
Whilst having a gander around the stalls at Discover Dogs in November I stumbled across the Dog Games Ltd stall.  Not only did they stock a fleece lined harness which I had seen on other stalls but they had a completely different style harness I had never seen before which they called the Perfect Fit Harness.
 
Sally, the designer and creator of the harness was on hand (may I add she was a lovely lady to speak to) and she demonstrated how the different pieces clipped together and how each separate piece could be purchased in a different size thus creating the perfect fit for your dog. 
 
Sally went on to explain how the harnesses were such a good snug fit they would be suitable for tri-paws which I think is an amazing achievement!  If you don’t believe me, check out their website and Facebook page for photos and videos of tri-paws running about with ease in their harnesses and them not budging a smidge.
 
I love the fleece lining as opposed to these harnesses that have bare webbing rubbing in my dogs little arm pits!  Thick fleece lining has got to be a lot more comfortable right? I know what I would choose if I had to wear it so why should we pick for our pet any different.
 
I came home without having purchased a harness as I did not know my dogs sizes by heart but was armed with some literature to read up about the harnesses more.  Sally had also advised that they would send out a free alternative size if any of the pieces didn’t fit correctly. 
 
I am soooo pleased I read the brochure I was provided with and the medical / health benefits to using a harness over a collar.  I am guilty as charged, I have usually used collars on my dog for the last 4.5 years but never ever again!  This harness will prevent choking, pain and injury to their sensitive neck and throat area, reduce anxiety and adrenaline levels which in turn should reduce pulling on lead, and enables it to put its head to the ground to stimulate its natural working and sniffing instincts for mental well-being.
 
The brochure also describes several medical conditions that can be brought on from making your dogs wear a collar and them pulling on it.  My dog can be a puller sometimes particularly when she sees a cat!  One of the conditions was common in terriers (she is a Border Terrier x Poodle) so at that point I was sold.  Why would I want her to wear anything that would cause her pain, discomfort or eventually long term medical problems.  Please order a brochure off of the website for free and read it, and hopefully you too will change your mind and stop your dog wearing a collar.
 
In addition to the health benefits the harness is also useful for the following reasons:
 
 
1.       It is easy to put on – you do not need to lift your dogs legs or put it over their head, just clip it round their body.
2.       The harness will grow with your dog.  Because this harness is designed to fit ALL shapes and sizes of dogs, it is particularly suitable for puppies and young dogs. From the age of about 5-6 months onwards the young dog can be fitted with the Top and Front pieces in the "adult" size and has a smaller Girth piece while it is young. Then when it grows older and bigger you just buy a larger adult sized Girth piece.
3.       If one part of the harness gets damaged or chewed, you can just replace the individual bits as opposed to the whole harness.
4.       They have found that this snug fitting harness can often calm down and reassure over-anxious and excitable dogs, helping them to become more confident and relaxed (apparently working like a body or comfort wraps). These harnesses have been found to be very beneficial in many rescue centres, with recently rehomed dogs, and also with dogs showing various behavioural problems.
 
5.        These harnesses are safer because the harness clips around the dog's head the neck hole can be made smaller than the dog's skull, thus preventing the dog from escaping.
The harnesses are available in lots of different colour top pieces including high visibility pieces with reflective webbing.
 
dog games shop ltd perfect fit harness dogs cats pigs tri-paw collar lead fleece lined comfortable
Photo taken from the Dog Games Shop website
dog games shop ltd perfect fit harness dogs cats pigs tri-paw collar lead fleece lined comfortable
Photo taken from the Dog Games Shop website
 
 
I would recommend that you order your harness over the phone and seek advice from the professionals.  They will just ask you your dog’s measurements and advise what harness size pieces they think you need.
 
 
For a full video demonstration of how the harness works please visit this YouTube video by clicking here.

 


I hope you found this review helpful and maybe discovered a product that will make you as happy as it has me.  The harnesses can be delivered worldwide so do not fret if you are reading from outside of the UK.  The Perfect Fit Harness is also suitable for cats and even pet pigs!

Do you use harnesses or collars for your dogs? Have you heard of this harness before? I would love to know your comments and thoughts so leave them below!
 

 
 

 

 


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