Thursday, October 16th, 2008
When you decide that you and your family need a break from the day to day routine of things you probably end up booking a nice holiday or a few days away somewhere? Do you ever take your dog with you or do you put him / her in a local kennels?
If I’m totally honest my family and I have never put Mitzi in a kennels, not because we don’t trust them, we have just been lucky to have family or friends who will mind her if we decide to go on a vacation somewhere.
In the UK, Wales and Scotland I’m pleased to say that after a lot of research on the internet, more and more hotels are welcoming families with their dogs. Usually have to pay a small supplement and ensure that your dog does not do any damage or soil the room you are in. I’ve also noticed that due to the financial crisis which seems to be happening all over the globe, more and more people are either taking less holidays or they are staying in their own country rather than flying. Which is good on one way, especially for your little dog!
It is far more cheaper (and rewarding) to take your dog to a ‘dog friendly hotel’. Your dog will be under less stress as it will be close to you and your family and I’m certain it will love the new environment and beautiful new surroundings just like you!
So before you automatically book you dog into a kennels if you are planning a holiday, just do a little bit more research on the internet and see if you can find a dog friendly hotel, I’m certain you will find one that is suitable.
Recently my family and I rented a beautiful cottage in Anglesey (Wales) for a few days. I found this cottage whilst browsing the web. The thing what jumped out at me was that they allowed one dog in the rented cottage as long as it was on good behaviour so-to-speak! This was perfect for us. If I’m honesty, I did have a little nagging doubt about whether the cottage would smell ‘doggy’ due to previous tenants staying before us. However, as soon as I opened the cottage door all I could smell was a clean, fresh and welcoming cottage, no doggy smells or anything. The owners even had a couple of dog bowls waiting in the kitchen for Mitzi! This is something I would definitely recommend if you are planning a journey soon.
If you have any ‘dog friendly hotels’ or ‘dog friendly cottages’ you would like to recommend then just get in touch or leave your comments.
Posted in Advice, Dog, Westie | No Comments »
Monday, October 6th, 2008
Have you every wondered why dogs eat grass?
Some individuals say that dogs eat grass if they have an upset stomach or are general feeling unwell as the grass makes the dogs vomit not long afterwards. But others say that their dogs just enjoys eating it.
I know a few dogs who eat grass quite regular and they seem perfectly fit and healthy. However if my Westie’s stomach is making a gurgling noise I know that when I take her out for a walk she will head straight to the grass and will munch away at if there is no tomorrow. Within 10 – 30 minutes of eating the grass she will vomit, after this she always seems to perk up.
Do not be alarmed if you dog does eat grass (unless they have eaten it from an area where you think it may be contaminated in which case take it to the nearest vet immediately), it appears to be normal canine behaviour. As previously mentioned never allow your dog to eat grass in an area which you have not been to before because you do not know what has been put on the grass ie fertiliser, weed killer etc as this can potentially harm your dog.
Some veterinarians say that a dog eating grass is not a sign off illness, but a case of the dog just like the taste, which I think could be partly true. However, if your dog is showing other signs of being unwell then it is always best to get a second opinion and leave nothing to chance.
Posted in Dog, Westie | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
Are you the owner of a dog? Have you had your pet microchipped yet? If not, then read on.
Every year thousands upon thousands of dogs are both lost and found. Thankfully now to microchipping the lucky dogs can be traced back to their owners. However there are still many dogs that have not yet been microchipped and these are the unlucky dogs which will then either stay in animal shelters or dogs homes for months on end or even have to be put to sleep.
Microchipping has been around for many years now and it is essential that you have your dog chipped as soon as you take them into your home if they haven’t got one already. If you are visiting a dog shelter or dogs home the majority of organisations will no doubt of already microchipped the dog before it leaves, but there are some which do not offer this service. Here in the UK the average cost to microchip a dog is around £10-£20.
A tiny microchip is painlessly inserted under the animal’s skin. Once a dog has been microchipped it has its own unique number. The owner’s details and the code are put on to the national PetLog database. If a lost or stolen animal is found the code will be revealed by passing a scanner over the microchip. Then it’s just a case of matching the code with the PetLog database. Which means the dog will be able to be returned back to it’s owner.
If you haven’t already had it done, then please do think about it. Lots of dogs love to venture out, especially when their owners are not looking! Also, there are some characters in this world who wouldn’t hesitate to steal a pedigree dog if they had a chance.
Posted in Advice, West Highland Terrier | No Comments »
