When you decide to adopt a rescue dog, you need to make sure that you are 100% sure it is what you want to do. It is understandable that adopting a homeless dog is a hugely satisfying and rewarding thing to do, but you need to remember that the dog you rehome is likely to have some form of behavioural problems and suffer from emotional disturbance.  This may be the reason they are being rehomed in the first place so make sure you are prepared for all this.

I know it may sound scary but the likelihood is that they have become this way due to a lack of training and guidance and with the right love and care they will learn how to behave and how to trust you and all difficulties should be overcome.

Make sure you are fully prepared for your new arrival before you bring them home. Don’t leave things until the last day.  Ensure you have made the house safe, plugs kept out of reach, wires out of chewable distance and small objects kept tucked away. Prepare their bedroom area. This area will be very important to them as it will become their safe zone. This is where they will sleep every night and it’s important you provide them with a warm dog bed and some dog toys to keep close to them. Dog beds provide this safe zone for the animal where they can retreat to if they become anxious in a new environment.

It is also a good idea to get your dog micro chipped which can also be done at the vets; this is due to the fact that as the dog may need to learn how to trust again, it may have separation anxiety and a fear of noises which could lead to attempts to run away. This is common though so do not be alarmed. The bond will soon be forged once it learns of your kind intentions.

It may take your new pooch 6-12 weeks to settle in, but part of this wonderful process is seeing the transformation into a loving family pet and realising how much you have done for this loving animal’s life.

Once more, winter is drawing in. The days are getting shorter, the nights darker, the weather colder, rainer and windeier and there is no doubt in my mind that it won’t be long before Britain experiences ‘the big freeze’ once again.

So – what do we need to for our pets in order to ensure they remain in tiptop condition to bear this cold winter climates. Obviously, various dogs require various different things. Smaller dogs will invariable feel the cold more so it is worth investing in a dog coat for the colder month for smaller dogs. Espercially if the dog is older and cannot exertue itself in such a way to beat the cold and even more so if the dog spends much of its time outdoors.

It is also important to consider whether owners have a responsibility to change their dogs food in the winter. As the temperates become harsher, dogs will require different things from its nutritional balance. This is why pet food ought to be seriously considered over this time. It is often not that case that you will need to change what your dog eats in the winter months. Feeding any dog the same food during winter as in summer will certainly cause no harm, however it is often the case that dogs will need more food. More energy resource is used through keeping warm, so any calories get used much quicker when it’s cooler.

Again, nearly all dogs will benefit from slightly more food in the winter months, though this is espeically true if your dog is a smaller breed, a puppy or pregnant.

Hills is a name which the majority of dog owners out there will already be more than a little familiar with as they are famed for their top quality food and accessories, all of which are designed with one thing in mind, the health of your pet. Well, having already garnered something of a reputation for being one of the biggest names in pet food in the market today, the team behind the scenes at Hills are also looking at ways in which your pets can remain at the peak of their physical well-being by offering up specially designed exercise programmes for your dog.

            As they state on their website, a dog which is only slightly over-weight can develop all sorts of unwanted ailments on account of the extra mass they are having to carry. Diabetes, heart problems and the like are not just human issues and should your pooch binge beyond its means, it could well develop one or more of these extremely unpleasant disorders. As such, the team at Hills are prepared to guide you owners in a bid to help combat such problems with their new Weight Loss tips page.

Health Dogs eat Hills Dog Food

            Here you can find not only a range of exercise techniques which will assist you and your dog in the keeping-trim stakes, but also advice on what kinds of food will prevent such complaints from occurring and guides on how much is too much. To find out more about these new programmes (one of which is tailored to help cat owners) why not visit the Hills page today? After all, if your new years resolution was to shed a few pounds, don’t leave your pets behind; fighting the flab is something which all species should be trying in 2011 and Hills are here to help.

You can get great deals on Hills Dog Food at GJW Titmuss – The Number One Online Pet Supplies Retailer!

When Snowy, a West Highland terrier from Cambridgeshire, couldn’t keep her food down for two weeks, her owners sensibly took her for a check-up at the Cromwell Veterinary Group. Imagine their surprise when the routine x-ray came back looking like this!

Yes, that is exactly what it looks like; Snowy had swallowed a family of 5 toy cats, the biggest of which was 2 inches tall! The other 4 cats were about an inch long as well, which means they would take up quite a lot of room inside any dog, let alone a little West Highland terrier – a breed that rarely grow to taller than 11 inches themselves!

After the operation to remove the cats, associate vet Carol Barker reported that Snowy had made a good recovery and was much happier. Although we don’t know how Snowy managed to find or swallow the toys, this is a clear reminder to all owners to keep easily-swallowed things out of reach of toys. Especially if they look like lunch!

Cathy and Tim Farr from Dinas Powys, Wales, have sacrificed more than most for their dog, a 9 foot-long Irish wolfhound called Finn! Working from home and with no children, Cathy invested in Finn 2 years ago for some company, only to watch him grow and grow until he was almost too big for her house! “We met Finn’s dad, who was a big dog, so we expected him to be quite big, but not as huge as he is!” she explained, “My husband nearly had a heart attack!”

Having wanted a wolfhound for 20 years, however, she persevered and converted the conservatory into a living space for Finn, who can also walk into the kitchen and lounge. “We have adapted the house for him. He even has a single mattress for his bed.”

Consuming a kilogram of food on a daily basis to feed his enormous 14 stone body, Finn is taken for twice-daily walks, after which he sleeps. He also uses a ramp to get in and out of the Farr’s 4×4, into which he just about fits! Cathy has said of Finn that “He’s got such a personality and he’s very expressive, it’s like having somebody in the room with me… He’s very tame, he is a gentle giant.” At 2 years old, however, Finn has another year of growth in him – so for her sake let’s hope he doesn’t get too much bigger!

Image from walesonline.co.uk

A Staffordshire Terrier was recently taken to Abbeydale Veterinary Centre in Blackburn with a shattered hind leg. Despite making every effort to repair and pin the leg, vets reported the poor Staffie’s leg just kept re-breaking, prompting them to amputate the limb to avoid having to put the ironically named Bones down.

Now fully recovered, Bones is seeking a new home with a loving owner to take care of him, which is where we’re stepping in to help out by asking whether anybody has a place in their home for this adorable dog. Caroline Dickinson from AVC said “He’s very active and loving…considering he only has three legs, he doesn’t half get around!”

Bones is thought to be only around nine months old and, given his disability, he would be best cared for by a family that spend a significant amount of time at home. Despite having only three legs, Bones is still a young and energetic dog, who will require a lot of walks and a great deal of attention. If anybody is interested in finding out more about Bones or helping to re-home this adorable Staffie, please call 01254 681811.

Those of you based in south-east London might be interested to read that the pet care centre Cats, Dogs and Peace of Mind, aka CDPOM, have added a dog crèche to their long list of services on offer! Including games, a piano player and even a doggy gym, CPDOM World is a Bermondsey-based dog day care centre and overnight facility, offering a wide range of features for £5 per hour of £30 for a full day of care.

The CDPOM website says of the centre that it is the “ideal solution for pet owners who want to ensure their pet receives the best care throughout the working day – and overnight if required…It means you can go to work, or to the shops, or can just get on with important things at home, without any guilt whatsoever. You can also go away without worrying about your pets.

Without a doubt, a team of fully trained and qualified pet professionals is preferable to leaving your dog at home for an extended period of time. As CDPOM’s Anna Webb pointed out, “dogs left at home alone can become depressed, anxious or even destructive.” Although the hourly service seems a bit extreme to me, this dog crèche is a unique solution to a problem every dog owner experiences at some point – how to get some time to yourself.

Image from CDPOM’s website.

Catching cancer early is vital to stop it in its tracks and minimise the damage it causes. For this reason, it is important all dog owners are aware of the warning signs that their dog might have cancer.

The most important things to look out for are swellings that continue to grow over time. There is rarely a harmless reason for part of your dog swelling up, so it is advisable to take your do go the vet the very second you suspect something. The same is true if you discover your dog is bleeding from any of their body openings, or indeed has any unusual discharge from these places. Depending on the location of the cancer, dogs can suffer from various difficulties in performing natural behaviour – be it urinating, defecating or even breathing. Although there are various alternative causes for these problems, it is always best to have a vet check your dog out just in case.

Reduced levels of energy that result in an unwillingness to move and more time spent sleeping is also a potential indication of cancer. However, do be aware that there can be many other reasons for these symptoms – depression, for example – so don’t panic yourself too much if your dog seems to be getting lazy. The same is true for weight loss; although it can be caused by cancer, there are many other minor diseases that can cause your dog to lose some weight

The Daily Mail website published a great article today, all about the dogs that helped Britain survive the Blitz of World War II. The Magnificent Seven, as they are known, are a group of dogs who helped rescue teams locate people trapped in the rubble caused by bombing. When the war ended, all seven dogs were awarded the “Dickin Medal for uncommon valour” – the highest award given by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals and the dog-equivalent of the Victoria Cross!

The dogs featured in the article include Alsation Jet who was called out every single night of the Blitz, Mongral Terrier Rip, who rescued over a hundred people in a year and another Alsation, Thorn, who saved a whole family trapped under a burning house! Each of the other four dogs has their own incredible achievements, all of which will amaze you in their own way.

Image from dailymail.co.uk

It’s pretty common knowledge that most dog owners care a great deal about their pet’s wellbeing.  However, where regular baths, a healthy diet and dog insurance are good enough for most owners, there’s always one group of people who have to take it further.  This time, the crazies happen to be in the Calvary Episcopal Church in Massachusetts, which has decided to open a “Perfect Paws Pet Ministry”, allowing local dogs to worship the Lord and ensure they go to Heaven.

Starting next Sunday and repeating on the third Sunday of every month, owners can bring their dogs to church and, while the humans take communion, a special blessing will be offered to the dogs.  Prayers will also be offered for those dogs that have already died or pets of other species.

Is this a good thing, we wonder?  On the one hand, it seems the spiritual wellbeing of a pet is as much the owner’s responsibility as their physical wellbeing.  On the other hand, animals can’t make moral decisions and, even if they could, they can’t repent – oh and there is no God, which makes the whole thing pointless.  Nevertheless, as long as the animals aren’t being hurt in any way and this church-going isn’t getting in the way of regular exercise, we can’t see any reason to be more outraged than we are sardonically amused.

Image: leadnet.org