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Friday 18 September 2015

The Golden Rules for exercising an older dog

As he gets older, it isn't normally necessary to stop all of the games and forms of activity that your dog enjoys. If your dog is still up to it, simply reduce the intensity of the exercise as required, and be sure to follow these golden rules ...


• Talk to your vet
Make sure that the exercise regime you have in mind is appropriate for your dog’s age and condition.

• Start with a warm-up
Before you undertake any fast or strenuous walking, stroll around with your dog in a leisurely fashion for a few minutes to get everything moving. This will enable him to perform better and reduce the chances of a muscle injury. Sometimes a little massage is beneficial before starting exercise, as well as afterwards – follow the techniques in a good canine massage manual (make that a hyperlink to complete massage manual) if you are going to do this.

• Exercise little and often
Several short walks daily – not just at weekends – are better than one long daily route march. Walking this way will help to reduce strain on your dog’s bones and organs.

• Provide water
Many senior dogs drink lots of water due to kidney problems, but even if this is not an issue you should carry a bottle of water to prevent dehydration, as well as a collapsible water bowl.

• Be guided by your dog
If your senior dog shows signs of fatigue, such as lagging behind, lying down for a rest or panting excessively, he has probably had enough.

• Where and when you walk are important
Try to include a good proportion of footpaths and fields; these are kinder to joints than hard surfaces like pavements. Keep in the shade as much as possible on hot days. Don’t always walk your dog in the same direction around a field: alternate by going in the other direction. Avoid walking too far in very cold, very hot or very wet weather. A waterproof dog coat will help to keep your dog’s body warm in winter. When returning from a wet walk, always dry your senior dog’s coat well with a good towelling rub.


The information and images for this article are taken from Living with an older dog – Gentle dog care  by David Alderton and Derek Hall.
    How to recognise and understand the changes – both mental and physical – that occur as your dog ages; manage these changes successfully, and make the senior canine years more enjoyable and fulfilling for both you and your beloved companion. 
    There is also advice on how to work closely with your vet in order to manage your dog’s senior years, as well as sympathetic advice for when the time comes to say goodbye.

Friday 11 September 2015

Charlie – the dog who came in from the wild book launch


Hubble & Hattie saw the release of its newest book earlier this month: Charlie – the dog who came in from the wild. 
The book's author, Lisa Tenzin-Dolma and H&H publisher Jude were at Corston Villiage Hall near Bath for the book launch. Thank you to everyone who attended the event, which was a complete success! Check out these great pictures from the day:
1  Actor Anthony Head & partner, the animal behaviour expert, Sarah Fisher.
2  Journalist & broadcaster, Bel Mooney, and her dog, Bonnie, pose with Lisa at the launch.
3  Resident H&H hound, Imani Cricket, organises sales of Charlie's book!
4  A happy Lisa with her tribute to her beloved Charlie.


Charlie is the true story of the bond that developed between author Lisa Tensin-Dolma, and Charlie – a traumatised, one-eyed, Romanian dog who lived the first 18 months of his life in the wild, never socialising with humans. Charting Charlie’s progress and setbacks, it explains how Lisa worked with Charlie to help him overcome his extreme fearfulness to become a happy, affectionate, fun-loving family dog. Charlie – The dog who came in from the wild is touching and heart-warming, and clearly demonstrates the transformative power of love and kindness.

Saturday 5 September 2015

Puppy Awareness Week – Preparing for a new dog


In honour of Puppy Awareness Week, Sainsbury's Bank has released this amazing article to help us through the process of getting a new dog ... from deciding if you're ready, what type suits you and your family, and what age of dog to get, to settling your new addition into your family and choosing the right insurance for your dog. It's a very interesting and informative read, so if you're thinking of getting a new dog, make sure youhave the facts!


Once you're done reading, be sure to enter a photo of any of your existing four-legged family members to Sainsbury's Bank's photo competition! You could win a new camera – perfect for taking pics of your new addition, should you decide to get one!

For more information on how to enter, visit the Sainsbury's Bank websiteGood luck!



Friday 4 September 2015

Puppy Awareness Week – the dos and don'ts of buying a puppy


1st September saw the start of the Kennel Club's Puppy Awareness Week (PAW), which runs until Monday 7th. It aims to make sure that puppies live healthy, happy lives with suitable owners by spreading the 'be puppy aware' message, which involves making sure you know which dog and breed is right for your lifestyle so that you can care for him or her for life, and making sure you can separate responsible breeders from puppy farmers.

The dos and don'ts of buying a puppy
The Kennel Club has released these helpful guidelines to help make the right decisions when choosing a puppy:

DO
  • Buy a puppy from a responsible breeder
  • See the puppy where he or she was born and raised
  • See the puppy interacting with his or her mother
  • Ensure your breeder has given the pup's parents the correct health tests for their breed

DON'T
  • Let your puppy be delivered to your door, or pick up your puppy from a neutral location
  • Buy a puppy from a pet shop or online services such as Gumtree
  • Buy a puppy on a whim or as a gift
  • Buy a puppy from a suspected puppy farm to 'rescue' him or her. You are just making space for another poorly pup to fill

For more information on how to help stop puppy farming, and for ways to show support for PAW throughout the year, visit the Kennel Club's website.