The mere mention of the word ‘kennels’ & most dog owners would recoil in absolute horror at the thought of their beloved pooch staying in them. Images would be conjured up of rows upon rows of cold, metal cages with no heating or comforts at all, in reality though most kennels are comfortable & friendly places.

These days there are numerous options regarding where to place your canine chum when you go away on your holidays. Actually you don’t even have to place them anywhere if you’d rather not as you can pay for a pet sitter to look after them in your own home. Make sure you use a reputable sitting business, one of the best ways of finding one is word of mouth. Ask around whilst you’re out walking your dog as the best recommendation is from someone who’s already used the pet sitter themselves.

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Puppies love to play & if they could stay awake long enough would play all day long! They learn so much through play & it’s a vital part of their growing up process.

So how can you play with your puppy? Well the secret is to not allow the play sessions to become too rough as the only lesson learnt from this by your puppy is that it’s okay to be rough. Now whilst this might seem a great idea at the moment when your puppy is so small & innocent it probably won’t be so appealing when your puppy’s grown up to be a big, strong adult dog.

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When you think of the beach, you instantly think about the long, hot summer months sitting on the soft sand but when you’re a dog owner it’s usually the winter months you look forward to on the beach.

The winter is a quieter time and the perfect time to enjoy some lovely long walks without the crowds of people. Most beaches accept dogs during the winter but obviously still ensure you check first prior to turning up with your excited pooches as there are still a handful of beaches that don’t allow dogs at all.

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Many people assume that simply because most animals have a lovely thick coat of fur they’ll naturally keep warm throughout the colder winter months. Now whilst this might be true in some wild animals our little domesticated canines could do with some assistance in the cold.
I’m not saying to go to such lengths as electric blankets and hot water bottles just applying some simple commonsense will help.

A lot of us view clothing for dogs as silly and totally unnecessary but when it comes to the cold it can prove to be very necessary and especially so for the shorter haired breeds of dog and of course the older canines. When it’s cold pop a lovely warm knitted sweater on your dog to keep the chill away from them, you can even purchase some little boots for dogs if you feel your dog would benefit from wearing them. Footwear would be handy in heavy frosts or in the snow to stop your dog’s paws from becoming icy.

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It’s the time of year that most dog owners dread as just around the corner is the night that leaves many dogs quivering with fear and their owners fuming at the sound of all the bangs and whistles. There’s nothing worse than seeing your beloved canine chum literally shaking with fright and trying to seek out a hiding place for a few hours away from all the commotion.

There are a few options when it comes to offering your dog some help. The first step is to try and ignore your dog’s fear as the more you fuss the more you’re simply telling your dog that he/she is right to be concerned. If they’re looking for a cosy retreat then let them look, don’t try and stop them from finding a place that they can feel safe in.
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Puppies are like little wind-up toys, they go on and on until they eventually run out of steam! The question is should you let them just carry on zooming everywhere or should you try to stop them?

The answer to this question depends greatly on the breed of the puppy. The giant breeds of the canine world should really receive restricted exercise until they reach at least 18 months old; the bigger dogs are prone to orthopaedic problems and for this reason, it is best to wait until their bones have fully formed.
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When it comes to communicating their emotions, puppies and dogs win paws down throughout the animal kingdom for their vast array of sounds. Barking is the most common noise associated with our canine companions and this in itself can mean so many different things.

Each time your dog barks it’s trying to relay a message across to you so instead of asking your dog to be quiet instantly try and decipher the reasoning behind the bark, sometimes owners and non-owners are too quick to shout at a dog for barking as it’s seen as an annoyance. Your dog could actually be warning you that there’s a stranger about or that they’ve heard an unfamiliar noise outside that needs to be investigated.
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The beautiful weather is here at last and after a long, cold and endless winter, we are all looking forward to some lovely dry walks with our dogs. There are so many locations to head for that we are spoilt for choice.

The important thing is to always plan ahead; don’t run the risk of being bitterly disappointed upon arrival when you discover dogs aren’t allowed! More and more beaches are now accepting dogs but you’ll probably come across certain rules, some will actually corner off a section purposely for visiting pooches. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing although you may feel restricted at least you can still walk your canine companion on a lovely, sandy beach.
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Cockapoo breed is a result of a cross breeding between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. It is one of the most famous celebrity dogs because they are loving and energetic like the Spaniel and shed less like its Poodle parent.

The Cockapoo puppies don’t have consistent and predictable qualities because they are not considered as a pure bred dog. This means that they have the possibility to inherit the characteristics of either of their parents or both. Some Cockapoo may look like more of a Cocker Spaniel but low dander like a Poodle but it is also possible that it will look like a Poodle with a Cocker Spaniel’s temperament.
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Like humans, your puppies need to exercise too. Exercise helps develop and strengthen their bones. A simple walk and a routine run are good examples of puppy’s exercise.  These are considered as the simplest form of exercises yet one of the most beneficial compared to others.  Just let them run loose outside but make sure to take their safety into consideration as well.

Even though running is healthy for puppies, it is very important to take things into moderation. Remember too much of something is always bad. It’s not advisable to take them on longer runs. It might actually do them more harm than good, as their bones are not yet fully developed and can’t take a strenuous exercise.
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