Dog of the Month - July

Slightly late, but this is our busiest time of the year!

This month's award goes to Willow.



Willow is one of my regular walkees, once a week. In the past few months she's matured from a maniac teenager who only wants to play with other dogs, to an attentive and responsive dog who is a real pleasure to walk with.

Well done Willow!

Current Vacancies

Dog Walking

[SPACE FILLED] From September we have one full time lunchtime dog walking space for an adult dog. We may be able to take your dog on earlier if required. Dogs are walked in small groups of three or four.



We also have space on our breakfast walks - an ideal time for busy parents to get the kids ready for school or nursery while we tire your dog out. Collection is between 7.30 and 8.30.

Thanks for all your help. Bubbles has really come on leaps and bounds in just the few weeks you've had her!
Rebecca H., Cockerpoo

August Bank Holiday Weekend Home Dog Boarding Space

Dogs are boarded in my home, where you know he or she will have company, love, plenty of walks and lots of activities. When you collect your dog they will be tired, happy, and often better behaved for you!

Thank you so much for having Willow. We took her for a long walk and couldn't believe how much better she is. Jacqueline P., Golden Retriever

Cat Sitting

One or two visits per day, to feed, clear litter trays, let your cats in or out, cuddes, love, anything you require.

Once again thanks for caring for him. It is a relief that I can go away and leave him at home knowing he is going to be well looked after.
Rachel T., Misty

Spaces are available over the Bank Holiday weekend and into September.


PUPPY CARE

My puppy services are very popular, so if you are waiting for a puppy to be old enough to bring home, or looking for a puppy, please do get in touch as early as you can.

All puppy care is covered by Linda.

Puppies are accepted between 8 weeks and 6 months old. They get one or two half hour visits per day when they get my undivided attention. Once they are fully vaccinated I take them out for short walks, feed where necessary, clear up any mess, and play educational games designed to give your puppy the skills needed for life with people. Puppy walks are for roughly five minutes per month of life, so start at five minutes per visit, working up to the full half hour just before puppy moves to my lunchtime group walks.

If you are at home but are interested in the educational games I can still visit, or teach you the games to play.

Spaces are linited so are taken very quickly - typically within two weeks of becoming available. I only have one space on average every three to four months, so if you are waiting for your puppy to be old enough to bring home and want me to visit, a non-refundable first week's deposit will hold the space for up to one month.

Puppy Training and Skills for Life spaces also available.

Thank you for all you have done. When I need to board him I will certainly be calling you.
Francis W., Jack Russell Terrier

Kong Ice Surprise – Cool Activities for Hot Dogs

When the temperature gets much above 25 degrees for a prolonged period, it can be too hot to give dogs adequate exercise. They have too much energy which isn't burnt off and they're a pain in the neck.

So we need ways to keep them occupied in a safe way. This is where the wonderful invention the Kong comes into its own. A Kong is a hollow, hard rubber toy (based on a motorbike gasket!). It can be thrown, chewed, bounced fetched, and perhaps most importantly, stuffed.

You will need:

* A freezer and some space in it

* Some (or just one) Kongs

* Some lovely stuff dogs like such as tuna, peas, hot dog or cocktail sausages etc

* Couple of hard dog biscuits
* Bowls, jugs, dog dishes or similar that can be put in the freezer

* Some (or just one) dogs


Drain and rinse the tuna and hot dog sausages. Mash up the tuna and cut the sausages into short bits. Put the Kong into a jug, narrow end down and put a biscuit in the bottom to plug the small hole. Spoon in tuna – the first time loosely. Once your dog has got to grips with the idea of emptying a Kong you can really pack it in tightly. Also a biscuit can be wedged into the top hole once the dog is used to it, but for now, just stuff it.

You can stop here – put the Kong into the freezer for a while, and then let your dog have it once it's nicely chilled. For more experienced dogs, or if you want your dog occupied for longer, carry on reading.

Put the stuffed Kong in the bowl.
It can lie down or stand up, it doesn't matter if it sticks up above the rim, but will keep the dog busier if it doesn't. Pour in some water, about third of the way up the Kong. Scatter in some bits of sausages, not too many pieces, some peas maybe, and put it in the freezer.

Once it's frozen, top up with another 'layer' of water and put some more treats in, maybe the cocktail sausages, perhaps a brussel sprout or two and carry on freezing. Once frozen again, top up the bowl as much as you can, a few more treats and freeze.

Once it is completely frozen, you can give it to your dog. The Kong should be nearly completely encased in a block of ice.

Your dog either has to wait for it to defrost to get the treats and the Kong, or he has to eat through the ice. Both will take time, your dog will be kept busy, without being overheated on a walk.

If you use metal bowls, the ice should be pushed out and given to the dog, so will probably need to be fed in the garden (in a shady area) as the metal will get cold and the dog's tongue and lips could get stuck to it and injured. Some dogs will kick and push the bowl about trying to tuck in, so might also need to be put outside.

Your dog's dinner can be fed this way, if you use treats, remember to feed less for a few meals so your dog doesn't put on weight.








PS apologies for the last photo, every so often Blogger turns one upside down and I can't fix it!

The Shocking Truth about Exercise

Here is it, are you ready for it?

I don't exercise the dogs I walk.

There. I've said it. I've confessed. This dog walker does not exercise the dogs in her care.

So what do I do with them?

The dogs and I go on expeditions around Brentwood instead. I don't even 'lead' the expeditions. I guide the dogs around interesting places, and let them find out things for themselves, by sight, scent, sound and skin (ie touch, I do like my alliterations).

I don't cycle, I don't jog, and I don't force the dogs to keep moving. We walk briskly, but there is always time to stop if there's a particularly interesting smell somewhere.


We'll also stop for a few minutes if we see another regular walker with dogs. The scary truth is that dogs will meet other dogs through their lives, and although there are times when it's best not to let the dogs greet, seeing regular dogs on our travels is a good thing. The more dogs interact appropriately, the more they practise their communication skills. And practise makes perfect! Plus they get to learn that sometimes they just have to hang around for a few minutes while the grown-ups talk and they learn to do so politely, quietly and calmly, as they know the fun will start again very soon.

I'll also randomly drop treats, and send the dogs to find them where possible. Or ask for a sit or two. To begin with at the end of a walk, slowly moving towards being able to get calm behaviour as they leave the van ready for their walk, and eventually, to sit and focus on me in the presence of other dogs, humans, or other distractions.


Or we might do a bit of 'wild' agility, climbing over logs, ducking under low hanging branches, jumping over puddles, dragging the biggest branch in the world along with us for a few feet (the smaller the dog, the bigger the branch they want to bring on the expedition), or just zooooming around as fast as they can for a mad few minutes. I prefer that as a spectator sport...

The dogs really appreciate being taken outside to explore the world, especially when they have members of their own species to explore it with. Another dog might pick up the scent or sight of something not to be missed! Two sets of eyes, ears or noses are better than one!


The dogs are always keen to come with me, happy to be taken home at the end of the walk, and, according to the owners who are home, content to spend all afternoon sleeping off the energy burned!


'Exercise' happens while we're doing other things.