Animal Fun

5 Top tips for keeping your pet safe and happy this Halloween

Halloween can be great fun for families with dogs, particularly if you like to get your dog involved in the trick or treating. However there are some very important safety tips that can help ensure you and your dog have as much fun as possible.

1. Ensure you keep your dog on a short leash when out trick or treating to make sure you can keep an eye on your dog at all times. Otherwise you may turn round to see Fido helping himself to a young trick or treater’s supplies.

2. Even though your dog may look fantastically cute in a costume, it’s extremely important to ensure they are comfortable, safe and can see properly when.

3. If you are staying home with your dog and handing out candy, it’s normally a good idea to keep the dog in a separate room with the TV or radio on to help keep the dog calm.

4. If you intend to give out treats for any trick or treating dogs, mini dog chews are the best option. 

5. Once all the Halloween festivities are over with, it’s particularly important to keep your dogs, and any other pets, away from the sweets because it can be very bad for a pets’ health(especially when they tend to eat the entire bag). 

Puppy Awareness Week: Things to think about

As Puppy Awareness Week has just come to a close, I've decided to round up some of the important things I had to consider when getting a puppy - who is now a large 5 year old dog.

In fact, that's probably the first lesson that can be learned - size matters when it comes to choosing a dog. All puppies are small and cute and cuddly, but they get bigger, and if you don't research what size they will grow to you could end up with a rather cramped house, which isn't good for the dog and isn't good for you. You'll also need tothink about exercise. Do you really have two hours a day to give a dalmation all the exercise it needs? Dogs with pent up energy are unhappy and can be aggresive - so think about your lifestyle carefully before you get a dog who needs a lot of walks.

Insurance is important too, and if you're not convinced on this one just try taking your pup for his or her initial checkups and jags. These are expensive, and emergency treatment is even more expensive. Puppies are known to be clumsy, so keep your new family member protected by insuring them from the get go. I got a good deal when I bought RSPCA pet health insurance, and found my vet was excellent in helping me choose a package that was right for my golden retriever. Remember, it's in everyones interest that you have insurnance, so use your vets knowledge to the best of your ability.

Another thing I had to think carefully about was the breed and breeder of choice. Firstly, choosing a retriever was the right choice for me, as they are friendly, happy dogs that like the company of people - which is important when you have a big family. All breeds have known 'typical' natures though, so have a think about what is important to you. Do you want a relaxed dog who likes to sleep a lot? Or would you prefer a high energy dog to accompany your runs? There will be a breed that fits the bill. And knowing the breeder's background was a must - check they are registered with the Kennel club, have all the correct paperwork and can provide a full history of both parents of your pup.

There's lots more advice on the Kennel club website of course, but that's my personal most important points. What things did you consider before getting a pet?

Baboons....and their pet dogs

 

So, you've all heard the evolution theories - and read the studies that say animals are just like us. In fact we're all probably gulity of being a little too amazed by the monkeys at the zoo, when we notice how similar their actions are to us. But despite being aware of the human-like qualities of monkeys and baboons - there is still room for awe and wonder as we discover new things about them. Two things I thought when I saw this video of babboons keeping feral dogs as pets. This is from the documentary 'Pets Like Us' which I'll need to hunt down and watch now. What are your thoughts on baboons rasing feral dogs as pets?

Hello Sunshine... 5 Idea's For Summer Fun With Your Dog

Summer has arrived, kind of, now why not try to make the most of it and get some quality outdoors time with your favourite furry friend. Here are some of our suggestions for fun summer activities.

1.  Snap Snap. Time to capture some memories. Wait for a nice day and head out to the park or somewhere scenic, with your pooch some toys and a camera. Keep it playful and you’ll both have a great time with plenty pictures to remind you.

2.  Getting away from it all. Choose a nice dog friendly place (other than home) and set off. It’s worth doing a bit of research if you’re actually planning a trip, ensure any accommodation and facilities are dog friendly.

3.  The great outdoors. Grab your pooch, a tent, and some supplies then head off for a camping trip. Be sure that if you’re going to any camping parks or anywhere similar that they are dog friendly. Also read up on any conduct and rules etc.

4.  Make a splash. Get a paddling/pooch pool for the garden. Yeah it’ll probably cause some serious mess, but your furry friend will definitely thank you, for helping them stay cool and you can have some great fun watching them splash about.

5. Be sociable. Why not try organising a pet picnic for you and any fellow dog walkers, that way everybody’s got some company. Just don’t forget the dog treats.

There’s so much outdoorsy stuff for you to enjoy with your dog and most of it doesn’t cost much if any money, so take advantage of the weather when you can. But remember to keep your pet safe. Keep their pet insurance up to date in-case of bites, cut paws etc, don’t let them out in peak sun for too long (yes dogs can get sunburnt) and ensure your dog is well hydrated at all times.   

The Pet Health Insurance Advantages You May Have Overlooked

Nobody wants to dwell on the reasons we might need pet health insurance – I know I never want to think too much about the reasons my cat may need an emergency trip to the vet.

Most of us owners have been told that pet health insurance can save us thousands of pounds in vet bills, and could even determine the long term health of our pets if it pays for advanced medication or procedures after an accident.

However, it is not just emergency vet fees that need to be taken into consideration when pet health insurance is concerned – there are a number of reasons why many owners feel it is essential that they take out a policy. This is why I have decided to highlight the costs that many of us often fail to predict when researching the pros and cons of pet health insurance:

Unexpected Costs That Pet Health Insurance Can Help You Avoid

• Emergency pet-sitting: Some pet health insurance plans will offer money towards kennel or cattery fees if you happen to be taken ill and there is no one around to care for your pet. This is a case that many owners don’t consider when deciding whether or not to go ahead with pet health insurance, but it is one that could cost you real peace of mind should you ever find yourself too poorly to care for your feline friend.
• Accidents caused by your animal: The first assumption we all jump to when thinking about pet health insurance is the health of our dogs and cats – but what if your animal isn’t the one that is injured. Some pet health insurance plans cover third party injury, which may be required if the animal involved inadvertently harms another: what if it runs in front of a car and causes it to swerve?
• Longstanding illness: Most pet health insurance plans will not allow you take out cover after your animal becomes ill. So if your dog, cat or rabbit gets health issues that aren’t caused by an accident you could have years of very expensive vet bills in the years to come without the safety offered by pet health insurance.

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Pets blogs

Animals and families

 

Some families just aren't complete without an animal - whether it's a cat or a dog, or a goldfish or even a *cough* tigeradoodle, animals bring colour, fun and enjoyment to many homes.

What kind of pet you decide on will dpend on a lot of factors:

Space - if space in your place is at a premium, large breeds of dog won't make for a practical type of pet

Money - again, if you don't have a lot of cashflow bandwidth, then any pet that eats large amounts or needs a lot of care isn't going to be a possibility - 

Then of course there are other more specific concerns - allergies withing the family itself or within close relatives who visit often could pose a problem with certain types of pet. Another concern might be noise - if you live in modern housing with thin walls, a loud dog might not be a hit with the neighbours.

One concern with animals is injusy or sickness and given that vet fees aren't cheap that's no wonder. But the cost of animal treatment can be brought down by taking out a pet insurance policy which helps to give peace of mind as well.

 

 

Police dogs of the K-9 unit

An official police badge and identification card might be seen as essential items for members of any law enforcement group, but in the Canadian city of Calgary these aren't just restricted to human officers - recently a badge ceremony was held for Calgary police dogs. The K-9 unit's 21 dogs were all present.

Constable Jens lind is quoted in the Calgary Herald as saying "I can't decide if I'm more excited about today's ceremony than I was when I got my own badge," he said. "The dogs might get a few extra treats when we get home tonight."

Just one question - how does a dog carry an identification card or wear a badge?

 

 

 

Expensive pets?

Most of us have inexpensive pets. My cat for instance came from the Cat protection league, and didn't cost anything. If you get some kittens they probably cost a few quid each but not a large amount.

Some people however have properly expensive pets - ever heard of the Ashera? At   up to 125000 dollars, not a cheap pet. Beautiful though they are, you'd probably need kidnap insurance as well as pet cat insurance - these truly are the rap stars of the cat world.

If I had that kind of money though, I don't think  I'd spend it on one cat. I reckon I'd get a few llamas and maybe a gila monster.

Bling pets part 2

... and while we're on the subject of pets in designer gear, what is it with websites that sell 'jewelry for pets'...? pets don't need to wear necklaces and bling-bling, they are cool as they are. The way God made them. 

Some folk really do go a bit too far in the quest to make their pets happy - most cats love a bit of fish - tin of supermarket stuff will do fine. There's no need braving the high seas and procuring some line-caught salmon for the cat.

And the expense saved in just making the cat happy and not treating them like they're a film star means there's more to go on some of the important stuff, like pet insurance so that you can have more peace of mind.