Motorway Walks and Breaks App

How many of you, like us here at H&H headquarters, went halfway across the country to visit friends and family this festive season?

It's great to get away, but getting there is often such a chore. That's why we've released our great new app, Motorway Walks and Breaks for the lucky people that had an iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone waiting for them under the tree.

Use this app to get more fun for your fuel, see more of the countryside, take a healthy break, or enjoy a relaxing pub lunch. 

 

Each page features a 30 to 45 minute walk, with a selected pub or café along the way. Activities for children are included, from bouncy castles to nature trails. 

 

All of the walks are suitable for dogs, and those with assistance dogs will find details of accessible paths and disabled facilities – for example, RADAR, a key that is made available to registered disabled people, which enables them to access locked disabled WCs and facilities. 

 

The listed pubs all welcome well-behaved canines.  

Most of the pubs are traditional inns, serving high quality food at realistic prices. Landlords, chefs and opening times can change quickly, and phone numbers are given for you to check in advance to avoid disappointment.

Motorway Walks and Breaks review from www.lostandfond.co.uk:

"If you are going to be driving around the UK visiting family and friends for Christmas and New Year – and taking your dog – then a new phone app could be just what you need.

"Lezli and David Rees – who run the Driving with Dogs website – have created the content for a phone app called Motorway Walks and Breaks.

"It has to be the easiest way to find great pub food, safe places for your kids to play, somewhere nice to walk the dog, or park a camper van, all within five miles of an English, Scottish or Welsh motorway exit. I predict it could save a lot of petrol and a few frayed tempers as holiday travellers search for a much-needed break from their journey.

"Along with their rescue Collie, Jem, the couple have trekked more than 1,000 miles creating walks, tracking down traditional inns and checking out other facilities for drivers, families and dogs to enjoy on their journey.

"All the pubs featured say they accept well-behaved dogs. Phone numbers are provided so you can check opening times and food serving times over the festive period."

Motorway Walks and Breaks is available now on the App Store, along with our other great apps!

Swim to Recovery now available

Available now is our fantastic new book, Swim to Recovery: Canine Hydrotherapy Healing by Emily Wong

This unique book explores canine hydrotherapy, rehabilitation and weight management, and how these can improve your dog’s well-being.

A type of aquatic exercise, hydrotherapy can help prevent and treat medical problems and pre-/post-operative conditions in dogs, and can also be used for rehabilitation and maintaining health and fitness in your dog.

Obesity is one of the most common issues that domestic dogs face today, and this book brings awareness to the matter, suggesting preventative measures and simple husbandry tips that the owner can use to safeguard their dog’s welfare.

Supplemented by illustrations and colour photographs of patients undergoing rehabilitation, this book is ideal for all dog owners.

Lots of people are talking about Swim to Recovery, including The Veterinary Record's Donna Carver! Check out her fantastic review below:

"This eye-catching book includes plenty of colour photographs from hydrotherapy case studies. In the introduction, the author outlines hydrotherapy as a complementary therapy that aims to improve pets’ quality of life. Chapters 1 to 6 may be most beneficial to owners to help them understand the benefits of hydrotherapy for their pet and how hydrotherapy fits into a rehabilitation programme.

"Chapter 6 focuses on obesity and related osteoarthritis, and explains why the progressive loss of articular cartilage and inflammation of the synovial membrane leads to pain and discomfort for the patient and is common in obese patients. The chapter outlines the benefits of hydrotherapyfor obese animals with osteoarthritis; swimming is a non-weight-bearing activity that can strengthen the muscles around joints while avoiding load on the joints. Advice is given on the advantages of underwater treadmill hydrotherapy units and their use, including the control of water height, temperature, belt speed and all-round view of the patient. However, this section of the book is short. Given the growing popularity of underwater treadmills in veterinary practice, and the links with functional rehabilitation of patients, I would have liked this section to be more detailed and use of these units incorporated into the case studies in Chapters 7 to 11.

"The pre-hydrotherapy assessment section covers the basic measurements of temperature, pulse and respiration, plus body measurements, weight, pace and gait to evaluate the treatment, and how to know when to move the patient’s treatment on. Guidance is given on the water level to target strengthening of specific joints, and on the ideal water level to provide buoyancy to reduce the percentage of bodyweight passing through the joints.

"Chapters 7 to 11 may be of most interest to veterinary nurses with little previous knowledge or experience of hydrotherapy. These chapters focus on its use in treating conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, cruciate injuries and spinal conditions. They are illustrated with clearly drawnillustrations and radiographs, while easy-to-read bullet points within the text are used to identify key clinical signs of commonly treated conditions. Each chapter starts with outlining the aim of the swim programme, the duration of the programme, tasks to be completed during sessions, advice on what to do at home, and how and when to progress the swim programme. In summary, this book would be useful to dog owners to improve their understanding of the benefits of hydrotherapy for their pet, and also as a starting point for veterinary nurses with an interest in hydrotherapy."

You can get your copy of Swim to Recovery over at the Hubble and Hattie website. Right now we're offering 40% off in our January Sale, plus free p+p within the UK, so head over and check it out!

The Hoglet Diaries part 2

Happy New Year everyone! We hope everyone had a great winter break and is as excited for 2012 as we are!

To celebrate the new year, we're still offering a whopping 40% off of our  books, with free p+p if you're in the UK! The offer ends at midnight on the 15th January, so get your orders in now! You can check out full details over at the Hubble & Hattie website.

You might remember last month H&H director Jude was looking after three baby hedgehogs, with the possibility of another one on the way! Catch up with the Hoglet Diaries and find out Jude's reaction to another hog lodger!

And then there were four!

'The call from the vet came out of the blue, as they always do, so some quick thinking was called for. Taking a small cardboard box from our stockroom at work, I popped into the vet's on the way home and picked up a healthy-looking hoglet who was simply too young to fend for himself. At home I weighed him – 207gms; not too bad at all. 

Here's looking at you!

'Making a bed in a smaller crate that I had, I settled him in and gave him food and water. As he was on his own, and I had the three earlier arrivals together in one crate, I debated whether or not to put one of these in with the newbie, but decided against this, at least until I'd been able to ascertain that he really was healthy. Hedgehogs are solitary creatures and, whilst they can live together quite harmoniously, don't usually actively seek to do so. 

'For a few days I monitored his progress and decided at the weekend that he would be better off outside in the garden, though still contained within a run until he'd reached an adequate weight to be released.

'My original three spikey residents continued to thrive and, as it was summer and the weather not too bad (considering!) at weekends and some evenings I would put them outside in a large run on the grass, so that they could have a snuffle and poke about, and get used to the idea of being outside. Every time, as usual, Immie would be fascinated by the little creatures, and watch, enthralled, as they bustled and busied about inside the run.

Immie inspects the guests

'Each evening when we got home from work, Imms and I would attend to our guests. First, the indoors bunch would be transferred one at a time to a 'holding box' lined with a towel so that I could clean out and wash their crate and remake it. Usually, when moved, the three would stay as I'd put them initially, wondering what was going on, but then would gradually begin to investigate where they were, holding their twitching, questing snouts up in the air, and very often coming nose-to-nose with the ever-present Immie. The hogs were not the least bit perturbed by her, and she has never made a threatening move toward any that she's come into contact with, which reinforces my view that the only animal that is instinctively feared is man, often with good reason. 

'Next, was outside hog, and this entailed taking from the run soiled straw/hay, complete with hog poo (very smelly!), and replacing it with clean. Although quite messy creatures in some ways, in common with most animals, hogs keep one area for their toilet, leaving most of their accommodation clean and fresh. All of the food and water dishes were washed in hot soapy water and preparation of supper begun – chopping up banana, little pieces of grape, cat food, scrambled egg – usually some or all of these foods. It was all very well received and apparently enjoyed as there was never any left the next morning. Hedgehogs seem to relish their food as, very often at night, when all was quiet and we'd gone to bed, I could hear the three indoor hogs getting stuck in to supper!'

Next month: Weigh-ins and a new des-res for the Weymouth Three!

Problem-solving animals use their heads to get food!

We as humans are adept at solving problems. We use tools to aid us in day-to-day life, and we're aware that some animals are capable of doing the same.

It turns out, however, that there are a lot more problem-solvers out there than we thought!

Over at the Melbourne Dingo Discovery and Research Centre, Sterling the Dingo proves that you don't need thumbs to get what you want!
The staff were baffled when the name tag on Sterling's enclosure kept disappearing, despite being out of the dingo's reach.
Keen to solve the mystery, they set up a video camera outside the fence and hung a food package up by the name tag.

The results were amazing...


You can read Sterling's full story over at the Animal Wise website.

Sterling isn't the only animal using his noggin, take a look at this video of an elephant using a box in a similar way to reach some high-up branches!

It's hard to argue that animals do not possess intelligence when faced with evidence like this - and domestic pets are no exception. They need stimulation and mental exercise just as much as these clever animals, and the best way for them to learn is through play!

 Our great books, Fun and Games for Cats and Dog Games contain lots of games that will test your pet's brain power. Most importantly though, they're fun for you and your pet!

You can find out more about both books at the Hubble & Hattie website. And don't forget, you can still get 40% off and free postage within the UK!

The World's oldest living dog dies in Japan

On the 5th December, the worlds oldest living dog, Pusuke passed away in Sakura, Japan, aged 26 years and 9 months. According to his owner, Yumiko Shinohara, Pusuke slipped away peacefully at home.

You can read more about Pusuke here.


Most dogs live longer these days, thanks to a greater understanding of what they need in terms of food, exercise, health monitoring, and medical care.

Our title, Living with an Older Dog describes how to recognise and understand the changes – both mental and physical – that occur as your dog grows older. It explains – with the help of unique and specially-commissioned photography – how to manage these changes successfully, and thus how to make the senior canine years more enjoyable and fulfilling for both you and your dog. 

Exercise, diet, grooming, sharing the house with a younger dog, travel and holiday arrangements – all this and much more is covered in detail. 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.

Living with an Older Dog is available to buy from our website. We're still offering our fantastic 40% off on all of our titles, so there's never been a better time to get your copy! Plus, if you're within the UK, you can also get FREE P+P!

Don't forget to take a look at our other great books and Apps over at the H+H website!

Two great new eBooks available!

Two more of our great books, You and Your Cockapoo and Dieting with my Dog, are now available as eBooks!

Now available from the iBookstore and the Kindle store!

Crossbreeding between different types of dog is not a new phenomenon, and, over recent years, interest in crossbreeding has grown, partly due to curiosity but more significantly because the role of dogs in our lives has undergone a dramatic change as they have become one of the family. As a result, breeders are seeking to create new, distinctive, friendly companion dogs that will thrive in domestic surroundings. 

The lovable Cockapoo is one of the oldest members of the so-called ‘designer dog' group, and, ion this essential guide, you will find everything you need to know about choosing, buying and enjoying your Cockapoo, including breed background, settling in your new arrival, establishing a daily routine and what to expect as your canine companion grows up. Over 100 illustrations – many specially commissioned – colourfully illustrate and describe these captivating dogs. 

You and Your Cockapoo is now available through the iBookstore and the Kindle store.

The veterinarian rubbed Kelly’s sides for emphasis. “She needs to lose weight. If not ...” Peggy Frezon recognized the list of serious ailments that followed. It was the same one her own doctor had given her.

Dieting With My Dog is the honest and heartfelt story of how one overweight woman and her chubby spaniel struggled to get fit and healthy together. Theirs was a comfortable routine. While Frezon’s children were flying the nest, her loyal rescue pup snuggled close. Sneaking M&Ms from her secret stash, she would slip Kelly extra doggy cookies too. Why not? Food is love. But then, Kelly became the motivating factor that led Frezon to face down the physical and emotional reasons for her overeating, and for overfeeding her dog. She learned that embracing change is healthy, and everything is easier with unconditional love.

Join Frezon and Kelly on their journey to weight loss with a wag. Dieting With My Dog celebrates our close bonds with our pets in times of both need and triumph. This book is for anyone who has ever loved a pet – through thick and thin.

Dieting with my Dog can now be found over at the iBookstore and Kindle stores.

As always, you can purchase a physical copy of both books over at the Hubble & Hattie website! Don't forget, we're still offering 40% off with free UK p+p, so get your copy in time for Christmas!

Animal Grief gets a great review!

Marc Bekoff is a leading light in the world of animal welfare, behaviour, etc, and known the world over, and now he's written an article dealing with the subject of animals and grief.


Not only that, but he was kind enough to mention our fantastic book, Animal Grief, within his article:


'We really don't need more data to know other animals grieve and mourn the loss of family and friends and I'm sure as time goes on more and more species will be added to the list of animals who grieve. But for those who do want more, a book called Animal Grief: How Animals Mourn was recently published that contains new information on how a wide variety of animals respond to death. Accompanied by striking photographs of a wide range of animals is a text filled with new information about animal grief. Topics covered include animal souls, self-awareness, the neurobiology of grief and mourning, mourning rituals, stages of grief, and numerous examples of grief in a wide variety of animals, including elephants, chimpanzees, cats, dogs, and various birds. A large amount of information is packed in its 80 pages and it's an easy read' - Marc Bekoff, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

You can read Marc's full article over at the Psychology Today website... go and check it out, it's a great read!


What's more, if you'd like your own copy of Animal Grief, there's never been a better time to get your paws on a copy... Hubble & Hattie are offering a whopping 40% off all of our books this Christmas, with free p+p if you're within the UK! (excludes Special Delivery)

Head on over to the H&H website to take a look at Animal Grief, plus a whole host of other animal books that will make great gifts this Christmas.