A new adventure at Thorndon Country Park.

Hi, it's me, Zeek. I just wanted to tell you about my new adventure with the hoomans today at Thorndon Country Park. We went in the car, I like car rides now and don't make weird laughing noises for the whole journey any more. It was huge and there was even a nice lake for me to take a swim in. We saw a few horses who I obviously had to say hello to and tried to find the rabbits in the holes but I guess they didn't want to come out and play. It was full of friendly dogs and their hoomans and they all wanted to play! I even made a few new friends. 



This is Molly. She's an 8 months old yellow Lab and loves everything I do. We hit it off right from the start! We had great fun chasing sticks and diving into the water. We even played a bit of tuggies in the water and I helped her carry her stick back to the edge. I could jump much further than her but she was much more graceful when climbing out than me. We both thought it'd be a good idea to shake next to our hoomans, they looked like they could do with cooling down to me! Molly had to go home after a little while so we set off to explore the park.

After a long walk round the park we got back to the start where there was a charity stool with a load of cakes for sale. They smelt yummy and I just couldn't resist getting a closer look! I resisted doing a taste test, I didn't think my hooman would be too happy if I did. That's when I made my next friend. He was helping out his humans on the stool and was taking a nap when I came over. He was quite a bit older than me so he couldn't run too fast. We just decided to walk around sniffing together, I was tired from all of the swimming anyway. I shared some of my treats with him and then it was time to head back home. I never did find out his name but he sure was a nice dog. My hooman thinks I'll look just like him when I'm older. 

I definitely want to go back there one day. Hopefully I'll make some more new friends on my next trip to Thorndon Country Park. 

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

What and what not to feed your pooch.

Most of us like to give our dogs a little of what we eat from time to time, especially when they look at you with those big puppy eyes! This is fine in moderation and there are lots of foods that actually benefit your dog, however there are some foods you really should avoid giving your dog or leaving it in reach of doggy tongues. Here's a small list of both and why you should or shouldn't feed the foods to your dog.

Do

• Unsalted peanut butter - This is a good source of protein for dogs and contains heart healthy fats. I like to put it in Zeek's Kong with some banana and kibble. It's a great treat, especially frozen in the hot summer months.
• Baby carrots - These are great for teeth as well as being high in fibre and low in fat. 
• Salmon - Great for the coat and immune system. I like to give Zeek salmon and scrambled eggs as a dinner treat as scrambled eggs are a good source of protein.
• Some fruits - I give Zeek most fruits but first making sure he won't be eating the pits or inedible leaves. Apples are good for cleaning teeth. Bananas and strawberries are good to put in Kongs. 
• Yoghurt - It's great for the digestive system and again is a good source of protein. Be careful not to get one full of additives though. I also like to put yoghurt in Zeek's Kong with some strawberries. He loves it as a frozen treat! He also loves to lick the pot out after we have finished with the yoghurt. Trouble is he now sits there with his eyes fixed on the pot waiting for your to finish and leaning forward with every mouthful. 

Don't!

• Raisins & grapes - They are toxic for dogs and can actually cause renal failure in dogs, raisins more so than grapes. 
• Chocolate & caffeine - It is toxic for the heart and the nervous system. Giving your dog these can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Take it from me, if your dog just so happens to drink half of your coffee you left on your side it is likely to bark for three hours non stop.
• Any sugary foods -  These foods basically do to your dog what it does to us. It can lead to obesity, tooth decay and the onset of diabetes. 
• Fruits that have pits - These pits can obstruct the digestive system. They also contain cyanide which is poisonous to both us and dogs. 
• Macedamia nuts - These nuts can actually be fatal for dogs. They're poisonous and can cause increased heart rate, vomiting, muscle tremors, weakness of the hind legs and a temperature.

Most of these things can only be a problem if they are being fed to the dog often. However things like pits can cause problems straight away so it's good to have an emergency vet number ready for these situations. 

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

Tailor made dog food from tails.com.

About tails.com.

Tails.com is a dog food company that tailor makes your dogs food from a range of 40 different quality kibbles. They make it based on the breed, age, lifestyle, gender and health conditions your dog may have. By taking all of these things into consideration they work out what your dog does and doesn't need in their diet and then send you the amount you'll need for 31 days. They then send you more dog food every 31 days automatically unless you decide to cancel it or don't start feeding your dog the food within the first few days of it arriving. In theory you should never run out or have too much food. If you find that you have too much or too little you just have to contact them via the website and they will adapt the next batch to suit you.

Why I ordered from tails.com.

I am very fussy with what is in Zeek's food. The three main things I look at when choosing a type of food is ingredients, colour and smell. I don't like to feed give Zeek food that has less than 20% meat content and look for natural ingredients to bulk it up. The food I fed him before had 26% meat and I was very happy with that. I was amazed to find that Zeeks tailor made food would be containing 49% meat and a good amount of natural foods. I have not seen this in dogs food at this price before. Luckily for me I am still paying the same for tails.com dog food as I was on the previous dog food and with the added benefits of great ingredients. Obviously this will differ depending on what you already feed your dog. I don't like giving Zeek food that has all different vibrant colours added to it to make it look good. Your dog doesn't care what colour it's food is, the fancy colours are just for us humans to make it more eye catching. I feel more comfortable when it is a meaty brown colour. I also like his food to smell strong of what is meant to be in it. I feel if I can smell it well then he must be able to taste it. Filling in all of Zeeks information was quick and straight forward and the food arrived within 4 days of ordering. 

My first impressions.

So far I love everything about it and have no complaints at all. The package came in a neat box with Zeeks name on it aswell as on the bags of food and an info leaflet. I know this isn't relevant to what is in your dogs diet but I thought it was a nice touch. I also know lots of people that would like to see their beloved furry friend's name on their food. 

Inside the box was two resealable bags of dog food equating to 31 days worth of food, three different leaflets and a measuring cup that can be adapted depending on how much your dog needs. The cup was a great feature for me. It came flat and was super easy to assemble into a cup shape with handles. In the booklet it showed you what setting to put it on for your dogs needs and that was it. Up until now it's always been a bit of a guessing game. I love the fact I know how much to give Zeek now and it's so easy to measure out. They also give some tips on helping your dog adapt to the new food. It is a good idea to mix your dogs current food with the new food to make it easier on the stomach, especially if your dog has a particularly sensitive stomach. I was happy with the colour and size of the kibble. Zeek's consisted of kibble of all different sizes but mostly of large chunky kibble. I assume that the size of the kibble would be adapted to suit the size of the dog but I'm not sure on that. The colour is how I like it. No crazy oranges and reds that have absolutely no connection to what is in the food itself. The smell is strong and not that appealing to me which probably means all the better for Zeek.

Overall it ticks all of the boxes for me. Good ingredients, great packaging and information leaflets, good smell and colour and all for a reasonable price! As I said before I do not have any complaints on the food and I don't think Zeek does either. Zeek is certainly not a fussy dog but he will take a second look if he isn't impressed. No second looks here and clean bowls all round. A high five on that one from Zeek I believe. If you'd like to try it out go to tails.com. The first order is 50% off!

If  you are going to order or have already ordered from tails.com or if you have any more questions please leave your thoughts in the comments box below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

The Importance of Socialising Your Pup.

Socialising should be a main part of your early training when you get a puppy. Ideally puppies should be well socialised by the time they are 3 months old. They should have regular contact with other dogs before this age.  Whilst they are young and everything is new meeting other dogs is just a part of the adventure. Dogs that aren't socialised in this 3 month period find it increasingly difficult to deal with new situations and meeting new dogs. This can make walks and trips to the vet very stressful for you and your dog. If you leave it until they get older they can become fearful of the unknown and then become aggressive and anxious when around other dogs. Your options on places to walk the dog are much higher if you don't have to worry about coming into contact with other dogs making your dog well exercised. After all a sleepy dog is a happy dog.

We socialised Zeek as soon as he was allowed out for walkies. We are fortunate to have a field about 5 minutes from my house with gate all around. We were even more lucky to have a group of friendly dogs over there to socialise Zeek with. Dogs of all different breeds and personalities. Because Zeek was able to meet up with so many different dogs he learnt very quickly how to behave around them and not to be scared or fearful of them. Zeek is now a very sociable dog and is happy around all types of dogs. This makes for pleasant walks and when we go to the vet the only problem we have is him wanting to say hello to each and every dog there.

Zeek still plays with the dogs that he wet in the park four years ago and now lots of other dogs have joined our little evening meet up. There are often people on dog forums that organise doggy meet ups if you're looking for someone to socialise with. We used Labrador Forums to get advice on what to do when we got Zeek. It's full of very friendly and helpful people. These forums are also great for other tips and advice. It's a great way to meet up with lots of friendly dogs and a great way to get advice on other training.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

Keeping those teeth clean.

Keeping those pearly whites white!

Right from when Zeek was a pup I have struggled to clean his teeth. As soon as you go near his mouth, with or without a toothbrush in hand, he clamps his lips shut. I had no idea dogs could even do that but Zeek can! When I eventually manage to worm to toothbrush in he just tries to chew the plastic. It's hopeless and almost pointless as he just ends up with bits of plastic in his teeth and is more suspicious of me when I try to get in his moth now. Not wanting his teeth to be in bad condition or his breathe to smell I started looking for alternative ways to keep his teeth clean without brushing them. I also found out that pet insurance does not cover dental treatment. Another reason

to keep his teeth tartar free and pearly white.

I found that feeding them dry food rather than wet means that his teeth stay cleaner and his breathe is fresher. Much better than our old Yorkshire Terrier, Benny who would only eat wet food. He was a lovely dog but you couldn't put up with cuddles for too long in his old age. I have heard that Labradors do not tend to have bad breathe but there is a noticeable difference when I feed him wet food on the odd occasion. To stop tartar from building on his teeth we were advised to give him rawhide chews. He loves to chew so it is perfect for him and it really seems to work. When he is chewing I can see all of the soft bits getting into the nooks and crannies like a sponge. Although when he leaves the rawhide on the floor or decides to take it to the garden it gets dirty and hairs begin to collect on it. I have also heard of rawhide causing blockages so try to steer clear from them now. It's also hard to find a good rawhide. Some of them feel very plastic like and Zeek doesn't seem to like them.

When looking for an alternative to this a friend of mine (Bolt's Mum) told me about stag bars. I love these as they fall off dear naturally in the Autumn and have great nutritional value from the dry marrow inside the bone. I prefer them to bones as they don't splinter. They don't have any toxins like some chews and they are easier on a sensitive stomach and they don't smell . They are also low in fat and take longer to eat than regular bones so are great if you're keeping an eye on your dogs weight.  They don't cause blockages keeping my mind at ease. Zeek seems to enjoy chewing on these much more than rawhide. They are a little more expensive than your average bone or chew but he will spend a lot longer chewing on them and they still last at least 5 times longer for Zeek. He is 4 now and his teeth are still very white so feel like the things I am doing are keeping his teeth in good condition.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on cleaning your pooch's teeth in the comments section below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

Going for a dip!

Zeek loves water! Providing the water is not in a bath or coming from a hose. He isn't so keen on the clean water. Basically any water that means he is going to come out of it dirty and occasionally smelly is great! We always wanted him to go swimming, after all he is a Labrador. Plus it's great exercise for dogs that are on the larger side without putting pressure or strain on the joints. Just 1 minutes swimming equates to 4 minutes running so is also great for the cardiovascular side of things. Building up a dogs muscle tone by swimming also gives them a greater chance of avoiding injuries when on walks or running.

If you're not so comfortable letting your dog take the plunge then have them on a long lead so that you can pull them in if needed. If you do this make sure that you're somewhere that they are not going to get tangled up. I was nervous letting Zeek swim the first time, but with a little reassurance I let him go for a paddle in a shallow pond. There was no going back. He sprints to the water every time we see it now and loves swimming with the ducks or finding a nice soggy stick to carry home with him. Our favourite place to go is Belhus Woods Country Park. There is a nice clean lake there that is dog friendly and there is always lots of other dogs who love going for a swim. Great for socialising and exercise. Belhus Woods Country Park - Google Maps

Swimming is used as part of a recovery process for dogs that suffer from ailments such as, arthritis, hip & elbow dysplasia, ligament tears, muscle degeneration, orthopedic surgery or paralysis. Whether you want to take your pooch for a swim to help them recover or just because you want to fit it in to their exercise routine, I definitely recommend it. Once you take the plunge you won't look back.



It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

10 questions answered.

Hey, I thought I'd take the time out to answer some of the questions you have about the things us dogs do. 

1. Why do we spin before we poop?

We do it to trample the ground and plants beneath us down. It's a way to keep tall plants from touching our fur that might have muck on it. We just want to stay clean. We also do it as a way to signal that we are going to poop and it' our spot. So don't knick it, okay?

2. Why do we wipe our paws/ kick our feet after we have been to the toilet?

Well there is a couple reasons why do this. One is to clean the paws and cover the waste. Another is to further spread the scent. By rubbing the paws on the surrounding area the sweat from the paws is spread, further marking their territory. 

3.Why do we spin before we go to sleep?

Much like when we spin after pooping, we do it to trample the ground. Only this time it is to make it more comfortable. Spinning helps us determine a good spot to nap and get rid of any uncomfortable plants and critters. We also do it to mark our sleeping spot to others. Some dogs, such as the Husky, dig holes so sleep in to keep them sheltered from the cold wind. Even though our beds don't need to be flattened it's and instinct that we have so we do it anyway. 

4.Why do we run & twitch in our sleep?

We are simply dreaming. You know, those real good dreams about chasing cats and rabbits. Don't wake us from this sleep though. Some dogs can wake up disorientated and snap when they don't mean to. It's just that they are not really aware of what is going on. Best let sleeping dogs lie.

5. Why do we want to sleep next to you?

Well you're our pack. We want to be close to you and feel comforted by the safety of the pack. We also like to be there to protect you. We also do it to keep warm. If we are hot we like to be alone and stretched out in order to keep cool. On those cold nights it's best to be snuggled up with the humans for a toasty nights sleep. 

6. Why do we eat grass? 

Why most humans worry when their dogs start eating grass because they believe they're doing it because they're ill, don't worry. Sometimes we do it just because we're bored or because it tastes good. It doesn't matter if we eat it, the vet said it's fine. 

7. Why do we lick you?

Besides the fact that sometimes you have food on you? Oh okay. Well we do it to our leaders as a sign of modesty as well as to get your attention and show affection. But watch out. Some dogs lick you or random objects when they're not well. We do it as a way of comforting discomfort and pain. If you think this could be why your dog is licking then get him or her to the vet. 

8. Why do we sleep so much?

We sleep more than you do but wake up more frequently. We sleep during the day when there is nothing better to do and not through being tired. When we sleep at night it is more part of the routine because that is when you humans sleep most of the time. If you were to jiggle my lead during the day and with a quick stretch I am up and ready to go. During late hours or early hours of the morning i'll get out of bed slowly and have a good stretch before hand. 

9.Why do we wag our tails?

We wag our tails for a couple of different reasons. Most humans think it is a sign of happiness and excitement. While a lot of the time this is the case you need to read the other signals we are giving off to tell how we are feeling. If our body is tense and our ears are back with a ready to pounce stance it is likely that we are on edge and anxious about the situation we are in. It's a signal for the thing that is making them feel this way to back off. 

10. Why do we sniff other dogs?

We don't shake hands and ask questions like you do. We find out what we need to know by picking up the smells that come from the dog and their anal glands. We can tell things like the gender, what the dog had to eat last, if it is in heat and even if the dog is friendly or not. 

Hope this helped.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below along with any other questions you want the answers to.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now. 

So you're getting a dog.

Hi, Zeek again. So you're looking for a dog of your own? Great! But have you thought about this carefully? Us dogs are all very different in needs. You need to make sure that you pick the right dog for you to make a happy home for you and your new furry friend. Take us Labradors for example. We are INCREDIBLY cute, easy to train and great family pets but we are prone to hip and eye displaysia. 

How do you decide?

You need to do your research on the dog you're thinking of getting to make sure it'd fit into your lifestyle. Here's a few things to consider.

Training. No matter what dog you get it is going to need training. When you're training your dog you need to make sure everyone that will be involved with the dog is training the pup using the same techniques. Some of the easiest dogs to train are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Australian Shepherds and German Shepherds. This is due to the "need to please" attitude us Labs and these other breeds have. If you're a first time owner you may not want to consider some of the tougher breeds that include Basset Hounds & Beagles because of their tendency to follow their nose, and bulldogs because of their stubbornness. My advice to you is make sure that you have some time off work so that you can properly train your puppy and make sure it is not alone for too long. After all, if I was left alone for more than 10 minutes my humans would come back to find their food gone and the flooring in a different place to where they left it. 

Do you have the room? Yeah, pups are tiny and cute when you first get them but you need to think about the dogs that they're going to grow into. If you don't have much space you may want to consider some of the smaller breeds such as chihuahuas only weighing about 6lbs and pugs. St. Bernards, Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes are among some of the biggest dog breeds. 

Think about the future. Are you planning on having some of those weird bald puppies you humans call babies? Well then it might not be the best idea to get the smallest of dogs as children are likely to want to pick them up and the dog may not like it. They could also hurt the smaller of the dogs. You should also take a breeds standard temperament into consideration. For example while Dalmations make great loyal pets they don't have the best temperament. Some of the best known breeds to have in a family with children are Beagles, Newfoundlands and Labradors. 

Consider the cost. Us dogs can cost you a lot of money over the years. Vet bills contribute to a large amount of this and all dogs will have health problems at some point. To help in this area here's the top 3 dogs vets worry about when it comes to health. Golden Retrievers are worried about due to the amount of breed related health issues, the main one being cancer. Bulldogs are also prone to bad health. Many need surgery to shorten their soft palate and enlarge the nostrils to make it easier for them to breathe. German Shepherd is third on the list. They are prone to epilepsy, vision problems, digestive problems, bad hips and degenerative myelopathy, an incurable condition that causes paralysis. On the other other hand some of the healthiest breeds include Beagles, Australian Shepherds and the Husky.

Exercise. All dogs need exercise but the amount that they need varies between breeds. Dogs such as Dalmations, Boxers and Boarder Collies need lots of exercise. A sleepy dog makes a happy dog and an even happier owner. Dogs that are bored and full of energy can become destructive. Not to mention a dog that is overweight can have lots of health issues and isn't likely to live as long. There are some dog breeds that require very little exercise. Chihuahuas and pugs this being on account of the size.

Grooming. My owners spends most of their time picking of hairs from her clothing and removing fur from the floor. One thing i will say, Labs and carpets do not mix. If you don't fancy dog hair all over the place you might want a dog that doesn't shed. These include the Bichon Frise and Yorkshire Terriers. However these dogs will still need to be groomed to stop the fur matting. Don't think that because your dog has short hair it won't shed as much either. Dalmations and Corgis are among the dogs that shed like crazy. This list also includes the Labrador and Newfoundlands. 

For more info on the dog you're thinking of follow the link and see if they have a 101 on the breed. dog 101 - YouTube

Please note that all dogs differ even within their breeds regarding behaviours and health, this is just a guideline to help pick the right dog for you. I hope it helped! If you need any more help just leave a comment in the box below.

Don't just go getting a dog without thinking about if you can meet it's needs and if it will suit your lifestyle. Too many dogs are being given to pounds and re-home centres or being abandoned because the owners can't handle them.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

How do you know your dog loves you?

When we are loved by other humans it's pretty easy to tell. They will probably tell you, write you a poem, give you gifts or hug and kiss you. But how do you know if your dog loves you? After all they can't say with words and they can't buy you things to show what you mean to him. Wondering this myself I found 5 ways you can tell if your dog loves you in a book by Gregory Berns called How Dogs Love Us. Here are 5 ways to see if your dog loves you without examining it's brain.

1. Does your dog come to sit with you after eating? 

What your dog does after eating will determine what is most important to them. In the morning my dog needs to go to the toilet too much to think about coming for cuddles. However after dinner it's a different story. When he has finished he will always come for find me or my boyfriend and sit with us for a while wherever we are.

2.Do they want to sleep with you?

Although most people don't let their dog up on the bed with them, them trying to sleep with you is a sign of their loyalty to you and wanting to sleep with "the pack". My dog sleeps in my room all of the time and most mornings I find him curled up in a ball at the end of the bed. For a bull in a china shop he is incredibly stealthy when getting a cosy spot on the bed. Although I don't mind him having a snooze on the bed when there is a cover on it my boyfriend, Tariq, takes it one step further and tucks him in... That is fine, but where do I sleep?

3. What do they act like when you leave the house?

Does your dog get worried and stressed when you leave the house? Well this is actually a sign of separation anxiety rather than love. This doesn't mean that your dog doesn't love you it just means that they're insecure and worried about when you're are going to come home. If your dog loves you and trusts that you're going to return they will likely go and rest awaiting your return. I have secretly watched to see what Zeek does when I leave the house. Most of the time it's a huff followed by a stroll to the bedroom and a snooze on my bed. If this isn't the case for you here is a video on tips to help your dog relax when he is home alone.
Tips to Help Your Dog Relax When He's Home Alone - YouTube

4. What do they act like when you come home?

Gregory Berns says that if your dog loves you your dog will want to come and greet you when you come home, much like wolves would greet others from the pack when they return. Tariq will often bring our dog to meet me from work and Zeek is always very excited when he sees me and tries to get to me as quickly as he can. He is the same when I take him to meet Tariq or when we come home from being out. If we have left the house together and only one of us return he always takes a second look to see if the other is there. 

5.Do you love your dog?

If you love your dog then it is likely that they will love you back. I'd say I love my dog as much as my family members, considering my pooch is like my baby and I prefer spending time with him to most humans.

From all of this I can safely say that Zeek is happy to be part of our family. 

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

Dogs are Man's best friend! But why??

The history behind it. 

Out of all domestic animals, dog's are most likely to be chosen my humans as their companions. It was first thought that dog's became mans best friend by the farmers of East Asia 15,000 years ago. However scientist now believe that the relationship between humans and dog's began back in the ice age. This would make our relationship with dog's go back 19,000 to 32,000 years ago. Wolf and man became a hunting team in the ice age. The wolves being the better tracker would lead them to the prey and man being the better killer would kill the prey and leave some for the wolves. The wolves were tamed and became a friend to the people and have been with us since. Your domestic dog now see's the family as it's pack and will try to please and protect it just like they did in the ice age. 

Relationships.

Domestic dogs are one of the few animals that will make eye contact with us and show attention to things we are looking or pointing too. Scientist believe that domestic dogs have even developed more communication skills with humans than with their own kind. They think of us as there pack and use a range of ways to communicate with humans. If you think about it how many sounds have you heard you dog make when around other dogs? My Lab only makes two noises around other dogs, one being a high pitched noise he only makes just before he says hello to a dog or wants to play. The other being a yelp if they are too rough. Indoors with us he makes many more noises and gestures. Over the years I have learnt what they mean. If he wants me to open the door it is a quiet short bark. If he wants me to get something or wants a toy I am holding it tends to be a louder park, or he will do a number of the tricks he knows to try and earn it. When he wants a cuddle he buries his head into me and makes what can only be described as a loud, deep purring noise. If he wants to go out for a walk he will go up to his lead, moan and then look at me. If we wants water or food he bangs his bowl getting louder the longer I take to do it. I'm sure your dog will do many of these things and more. It's this sort or communication we have between human and dog that gives us such a strong bond. Because we have an understanding of each other and our emotions it makes it easier to relate to them.

Taking to your dog.

Studies show that dogs can understand up to 165 words. Most dogs understand sit, stay, wait, lay down, drop it and other commands. They can also learn the names of objects, for example, my dogs knows what his lead is and knows that if I tell him to get it we are going for a walk. He knows what dinner means and when I say it will go to his bowl. Although most of the time when we are talking to them they are just trying to figure out our mood by the tone of our voice. If you were to say "I love you" but in an angry voice they would think you were mad at them. On the other hand if your were to say "you naughty boy" with a happy tone they would take it as praise. 

Dogs use our tone of voice and gestures to figure out what we mean much like children do. They figure know that when they do something wrong they will not get the attention they want and when they do something good they get a reward. This is why my dog now brings me the post every morning to get a treat and sometimes tries to bring it individually to get more. Although he sometimes tried to open my post too and tears it into 50 pieces, his intentions are good. He also knows that if he brings me post and I say "give it to Dad" along with me pointing in his direction, he needs to take it too my Dad. My hamster never did that... 

This is why dog's are man's best friend.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading. Bye for now. 

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Toys that last!

Zeek, the destroyer!!!

The thing that Zeek loves to do most with a toy is chew it up into tiny pieces. It doesn't matter what it was intended for that is it's new purpose. Actually as a puppy it didn't even have to be a toy. Flooring and tables also took his fancy. It seems the more he likes a toy the more he will chew at it and in the end he doesn't have it any more, it's a cycle! I have comes to terms with the fact that no matter what I buy him, it will be destroyed one way or another! So with this in mind it's just about trying to find toys that last him more than 5 minutes. I have given up buying cheap £1 toys as i was ending up buying so many as may as well have bought the better more expensive ones. Here are the 3 best toys I have found so far.  

KONG off/on squeaker bone. 

I bought this as, as it says, you can turn off the squeaker. Great for night time when he decides he fancies a chew and everyone is asleep. The squeaker is also incredibly tough. It usually take Zeek a maximum of two days get the squeaker out of a toy or pierce it so that it no longer squeaks and he then gets bored of it. He has has this about a month and has played with it most days and the only thing he has managed is to pull some of the material away from the rubber, and even that took him a while. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes so great for dogs of all sizes. All in all a very good purchase for only £7 at Pets at Home. Here is a link to a video showing the product a little more Off/On Squeaker - Product Release Video - YouTube.

KONG Wubba Flobby Ears. 

This is a tough squeaky toy consisting of a small tennis ball for the top ball and a larger squeaky ball for the mouth and nose part. He loved this toy and liked to shake it about because of the "floppy ears". He has had this for about 6 months and although he did manage to get the squeaky ball out within a few weeks and destroy that within seconds the rest of it is still in pretty good condition, minus the drool. I also really like the design of this product. I like to have good looking as well as long lasting toys. For only around £8 this was a good product. 

Classic solid rubber bone. 

This is one of Zeeks favourite things to chew when he really wants to dig his teeth into something. It is simply a rubber bone and you can get them pretty much anywhere that sells dog toys. They only cost about £3 from my local market and they last him a couple of months each time. As shown in the picture above he really does love a good chew on these. 

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic or if you have any recommendations of durable toys we could try then please leave a comment in the comments box below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now. 

Pet Video Verify Post

Pet Video Verify – No Microchip Needed For Your Pet

Today lost and found pets are a big issue. Many pet owners have high anxiety that their pet is going to get lost. They should be worried, the statistics are that many pets do get lost, it is estimated that 1 in 3 pets will get lost sometime time in their lifetime. If you don’t act quickly and have systems in place, you may never see the pet again. Pet Video Verify is developing applications that help you put systems in place that help manage your pets better with this website.

Pet Video Verify pet video identification system is a patent pending system. This video identification system is trying to revolutionize how lost pets are found and returned to the owner. In the current version of the web application, the pet owner looks over the pet for special attributes and takes measurements, then they video the pet including the special attributes and measurements, you can see an example of a video identification by clicking here. When all these special attributes and measurements are put together, virtually any pet can be identified. A video of your pet is a lot better way to identify them because with a video you can get all parts of the pets body. In the future, we are going to include electronic measurements of the pet in the video! 

Pet Video Verify has integrated another application into its software and it is the ability to store pet medical records online by visiting here. When you have access to your pet medical records online, you can access the medical records anytime you need them from any device that is connected to the Internet. Keeping your pet medical records online also help veterinarians because if your pet gets lost and ends up at the vet, the vet may not know the identity of your pet. The vet can use the video identification to identify your pet and also pull your pet's medical records! Very helpful and can save your pet's life!

Pet Video Verify has an application where pet owners can sell their used pet items to other pet owners. Pet owners search the Internet looking for pet items. Many would prefer pet items that have already been used and that the owner needs to get rid of, which can be found here. They can search Pet Video Verify for these items and contact the owner to purchase those items.

Pet Video Verify also receives pet coupons from major retailers at their site. We receive the coupons or deals from big retailers such as PetSmart! We push the coupons and deals directly to our users helping them find deals on new items that they need for their pet! We are getting new advertisers all the time so we receive lots of good coupons and deals!

You can also post your cute pet pictures for everyone to see on our website. People love cute pet pictures because they bring joy to their life. Pet owners love posting them because they are proud of their pet and they want them to bring joy to other people.

Training our pooch

He we go.

Recall

As I had been waiting to prove myself to my parents for so long that I could look after a dog I wanted to do a really good job in training Zeek. Before I got i made sure that I would be at home with him all of time for the first few days. We started recall training as soon as he set foot in the door rewarding him with a treat every time he came to one of us. I was shocked at how quick they catch on when food is involved. If you want your dog to come to you when you are out and about it is vital they do when you're at home first. We did this practically constant for the week before he was able to go out for walks. By then he followed us everywhere we went anyway so went we eventually took him out all of the hard work really did pay off. We took him to a small quiet field that had gates that could be shut should he decide he wants to go exploring. He loved exploring and sniffing all of the new smells but came to us as soon as we called his name. Brilliant! Recall - Mastered.

Socialising 

Having a friendly & social dog was a massive thing for me and my boyfriend. After all, a dog that can be trusted off of the lead will burn off much more energy and socialising is great for the brain. In the park that we took him to as a pup there would be a group of dogs and their owners that went thee at 6 everyday for a run around. This was perfect for us. They were all very friendly and gave Zeek the space that he needed to feel comfortable enough to pounce on them and tug at their ears. He loved going to play with his canine friends and as the years have gone on their have been more and more dogs join the group. Not only was it great for Zeek it was brilliant for us as first time dog owners to get advice on things like health and training. 

House training

This was the one that I was most worried about as this was the main reason my mum didn't want another dog. We got Zeek at 10 weeks old so it was a bit easier than trying to train a pup at 7 weeks. We started this straight away too taking him to the garden and giving him a load or praise and a treat when he did a wee outside. Zeek had a habit of walking down the hallway when he wee'd and leaving a long trail leading to the guilty pup! That only took about a week to stop though. The harder one to break was his habit of pooping in the bathroom (kinda clever i thought) and in my younger brothers room at the side of his bed! He has always done it in certain spots so this was handy as we could go and check them to make sure he hadn't made a mess. We stopped this purely by giving him treats and cuddles when he did it outside an giving him the cold shoulder when he did it indoors. Labs do not like to be ignored! 

Tricks!

Tricks are fun for us as well as keeping your pups mind active and distracted from chewing the house apart. We started with the important ones that we would including sit, stay, wait, take it (letting him know he could take the treat), lay down. Then we moved onto the fun ones he knows how to high five which is great when you're introducing him to children, especially if they are not so sure about dog's, it's a great way to get them to interact. He also knows how to bark on command and how to twirl and play dead. Some of these are not necessary but they are great to keep the mind active. He still, no matte how hard it try, will no roll over. After four years i have given up on that one. It totally freaks him out! We also do a bit of sniffer training with him consisting of hiding an objects, getting him to wait so I can hide it and locating the object when I say "find it". He then stands by it or brings it to me, we are working on getting him to sit when he has found it. He loves it and the interaction. Something to keep that moving without having to throw something and getting them to go and get it, fetch being something he has never really been interested in. 

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading. Bye for now. 

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Finding a home for Lola.

Introducing Lola. 

Lola is an 18 month old Lurcher in need of a new home. Lola was picked up as a stray dog by a dog pound. To save her being put to sleep Team-paw rescue, who are based in Essex & Kent, have taken on the task of finding her a family. She is currently on Canvey Island and is looking for either a temporary or or forever home. 

Lola is not suitable for those have have cats as she is likely to chase them but is fine with other dogs providing they give her time to settle and a bit of space as shy is quite shy. There isn't any history on Lola so it's not known if she has had any training but she is fine walking on a lead and being a young dog she is likely to be trainable. 

If Lola doesn't find a home soon then it is likely that she will have to go into kennels, this isn't the best thing for Lola as she is quite an anxious dog and this would be unsettling for her. All dogs rescued by Team-Paw rescue are vaccinated, microchipped and flead ready for their new homes. Please share this post to find Lola a home soon. For more info just use the link LOLA:- 18mnth old Lurcher URGENT FOSTER HOME NEEDED. 

For more informantion about Team-paw rescue and the things they do check out my earlier blog - For dog's that aren't so lucky. 

If you have any questions about this blog or things you'd like to know about please leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer them or post a blog. 

Thanks for reading. Bye for now. 

For more updates on TheDogBlog follow me on Twitter @thedogblog212 & Pinterest - clairej212. 

Grooming the pooch.

Oh so much fur!

Okay, so I'll admit, I was a bit naive as to how much grooming a dog takes. I mean how much fur can one dog shed? Well a lot. The amount that Zeek was shedding was starting to become a real problem. People that came into the house went out looking like a Labrador. There wasn't a moulting season for him just a period when the amount of moulting meant we were hoovering three times a day. The hair gets absolutely everywhere! My Mum was getting increasingly annoyed and brushing him with a standard dog brush just wasn't cutting it. So I went on my search for some new tools to cut down the shedding. 

My boyfriend is the one that came across the tool that I just simply could not do without. THE FURMINAROR!!! This little tool is amazing. I looked up lots of reviews on the product before purchasing and didn't believe that it could do quite what they said. But having nothing to lose and needing a solution I went ahead and got one. 

I had made the right choice. The first time I used it we got a ball of fur about the same size as Benny our Yorkshire Terrier. I use this a couple times a week and wash him him using the FURminator DeShedding shampoo every couple of months the day before I give him his flea treatment. Doing this has decreased the moulting dramatically! One tip I will give is if you're going to us ethe FURminator on your dog outside, and I suggest you do, make sure all of your washing isn't on the line! oops. There is a handy tool on the FURminator website that helps he figure out what brush is the right one for you and your canine friend. There is also lots of products that help keep the moulting down. Check them out at How to Stop Pet Shedding Solutions deShedding Tools | FURminator®. You can also get these products on www.amazon.co.uk and the price of the brushes range from about £15 to £30. They also have a video on YouTube that explains how it works FURminator deShedding Tools for Dogs - YouTube. I also give Zeek oils with his dinner that helps improve the coat making for less moulting. The best I have found to date is the Vitapet Moult formula. I noticed a difference within a couple of days of using it. The moulting had decreased by at least half within a few days. It's about £10 for a 450ml bottle. All of these things combined has decreased the shedding by about 90%. Very good results and very happy owners. I hope this info helps those looking for solutions to their dogs moulting problems.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

For updates on TheDogBlog follow me on Twitter @thedogblog212 & Pinterest - clairej212.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

For dogs that aren't so lucky.

Team-paw rescue

In this blog I am going to be writing about a local dog rescue to me called Team-paw rescue and the wonderful things that they do. 

Team-paw rescue is a small non profit charity that re-home our canine and feline friends in need. They are based in Essex & Kent helping the cats and dogs in their area. They will never put a healthy dog to sleep, they will find a home to those who need it. They neuter, microchip and vaccinate all of the animals they help before they are re-homed. 

To make this blog a little more personal and put a face to the cause I thought i'd introduce you to one of the dogs they have helped recently. Meet Bullseye. Bullseye was saved from a pound by team-paw rescue and has now been successfully re-homed. If bullseye had not been taken from the pound then it was very likely that he would have been put to sleep.A quote from his new owner "His my Bullseye he means everything to me, he has took my heart and I have found my friend". A happy owner with an even happier dog. 

Team-paw rescue save lots of dogs just like bullseye from pounds. Lots of the dogs and cats they get have been neglected or abused by their previous owners. They take time in making the dogs feel comfortable, get them back to a good health and then find the perfect match for them. The team work on training the dogs so that they are ready for their new homes too. Bullseye was one of the lucky ones and already has a home but there are still dogs that are in need of a home. Getting my dog was the best thing I ever did and I know I could never live without a canine friend by my side. I also know of lots of dogs that have been re-homed and their owners have never looked back. 

The work that they are doing is great and admirable. Help them help those in need. 

Take a look at their Facebook page to find out more info. Team-Paw Rescue.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

For updates on TheDogBlog follow me on Twitter @thedogblog212 and Pinterest clairej212.

Thanks for reading. Bye for now. 

Bringing home Zeek.

Finally!!

After years and year of trying to convince my parents to let me get a dog of my own they had finally agreed. I had saved up for him and all of the things he could possibly need in the world with my Saturday job. I went to get all our future puppies things with my boyfriend carrying it all back on the train, including the bed. That was a bit of a struggle as pets at home did not have a bag big enough. Once we had all of the bits I started my search for our puppy. Just by chance I came across in the add in the paper "yellow & black Labradors. Boys and girls". Perfect!

As I obviously couldn't possibly wait for the morning I convinced my dad to take me to get him that day at about 7 at night and off we went. Already having the name Zeek picked out for a boy we just had to decide on what colour. In the car we decided on yellow and that's what we told the lady when i got there. "A yellow boy please" I said eagerly and off he went to get him. I did wonder why I didn't get to go and pick out my pup but it didn't matter. As soon as I saw him I fell in love with him! A tiny yellow ball of fluff with two massive ears and a look that shouted trouble. That's him, that's my pup. She put him in a small pen next to us whilst she went to get his papers and food. He was jumping up at down at us when we were looking at him in the pen and trying to get our fingers with those tiny razor teeth. Papers signed and food collected she put him in my arms and off we went on the journey to his new home. He curled up in a little ball between me and my boyfriend, Tariq, and just feel asleep. It was a lot to take in I guess. 

We got him home and that was it, he was off to explore. Running around sniffing absolutely everything in sight and terrorising Benny, our nan's 12 year old grumpy Yorkshire Terrier that we had adopted. We soon realised that anything that you wished to keep could not be left in the reach of his puppy paws and teeth. After a grand tour of his new home a small run of the garden as it was dark he decided that was enough and resorted to the bed we had set out for him. I don't know how he knew it was his but he did. That is pretty much still his routine to this day. A good sniff of the entire house, just to make sure he hasn't missed anything and then a snooze to follow. That was it. We had our pup! Let the fun begin!!

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

For updates on TheDogBlog follow me on Twitter @thedogblog212 & Pinterest - clairej212.

Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

We're more than just pets.

Introducing Bolt & Stan, combating the world together!

Hey! It's me, Zeek. This is my buddy Bolt. In many ways Bolt is just your ordinary Labrador, he loves to play and sniff and go on walks in the woods. But Bolt also has a very important job. He is the best friend of a little boy called Stan. Stan has developmental delay. He struggles with social situations, making friends, dealing with his emotions and some academic aspects. In school Stan has a one to one to help him deal with all of these things. He has a constant routine in school life and that is settling for Stan. But what about home life?

That's where my buddy Bolt comes in. He is a constant in the world when everything else is all mish mash, his one to one in life. Bolt helped Stan literally immediately. When Stan went to get Bolt it was the first time he spoke to anyone outside of the home when he asked "where is my dog?". Introducing his new friend to people helped his confidence grow even more and developed his social skills. His confidence has grown ever since then. 

Bolt also comes in when Stan needs help emotionally. No matter what Bolt is there, ready to listen to him read or become one of the worlds best superheroes! And that's exactly what he is. When Stan if feeling sad or frustrated he can sit and talk to Bolt when he doesn't feel like talking to hoomans. He writes notes to his buddy Bolt to express his emotions and most of the time finds it easier to empathise with Bolt, teaching to understand how others are feeling. Bolt is the one constant friend that will not push him to do anything that he doesn't want to do. Bolt won't judge him or ask him a load of confusing questions. Bolt always understands how he is feeling helping Stan deal with situations he is not comfortable with. Stan is interested in very particular things and what do you know! Bolt loves exactly the same things as Stan! Bolt was Stan's first friend and helped him along the road to making other friendships and so much more. Having Bolt as a friend makes for a much happier and content little boy. 


Here are some videos of them having fun together! 
http://youtu.be/g3pOijfeLrQ
http://youtu.be/quDjPkGSqp4

If you're interested in bringing a canine friend into your family to help someone just like Stan then here is some links for more information. 

Service Dogs Europe 

Autism services for children - Dogs for the Disabled

Autism Support Dogs

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For updates on TheDogBlog follow me on Twitter @thedogblog212

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading. Bye for now. 

Trip to Camber Sands

Camber Sands in Kent is a perfect place to go if you want to get away for a little while but you don't want to leave your trusty canine friend behind. We went during October 2013. It was unfortunate that I picked the weekend that brought the worst wind I had ever seen but Zeek didn't seem to mind and it was only for the first day, the rest of the weekend was actually quite warm. We stayed in the apartments above the Marina Cafe and there is also the Kit Kat cafe that also allows dogs. Most of the other people that were staying in the same place as us also had dogs and the owners were very helpful and welcoming to us and pooch.

Once Zeek had finally conquered his fear of the stairs leading to the room we got in to our home for the weekend, dropped our things and headed straight for the beach. On to the next adventure! It was amazing to have it right on your door step and Zeek seemed to enjoy this even more than us! Lots of new smells to sniff and places to explore. He loves being in any water that means he is going to come out of it either dirty or sandy and as it was so so windy he dried in no time. He loved exploring the dunes and running up and down the hills. I have never seen so many friendly dogs in one place. A great place for a social lab. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to go on a dog friendly holiday. Also I to urge to you leave a comment of any places you think we could go with the pooch in toe. I'm always looking for new adventures to go on.

To see more pics of adventures we have been on follow me on pinterest username- clairej212
For updates on the TheDogBlog follow me on Twitter @thedogblog212.

Thanks for reading. Bye for now.

I'll take it from here.

Way back then.

So I thought it might be easier if I just introduce myself. The hoomans tend to waffle on a bit, ooh waffles! Ehem, sorry back to the introduction. I'm Zeek aka Zeekie boy or space invader. This me four years ago on the day I came to live with my hoomans when i was 10 weeks old. Ah the good old days when I could fit on their lap without them not being able to breathe. 

4 years later.

This is me now! All grown up. Handsome aren't I. I've learnt lots in the time i've lived with my hoomans. Main thing being that they do not like it when you take their lunch from the kitchen side! How was i to know it was the last of the bread and bacon? It hadn't even been cooked yet, up for grabs I say. They did get particularly grossed out when I sicked up a slice of bread still in it's original shape. For an easier life i don't do that any more. I spend my time snoozing, sniffing and taking my hooman for walks and saying hello to other dogs and letting the people give me treats. I always like to remind them where they are by sniffing at their pocket or bag and then looking at them until they realise. I love to go to the woods especially when there is some muddy water I can play in! I'm pretty clever too. I know when it's dinner time and am always prompt in banging my bowl over and over again just so they don't forget. I do all sorts of tricks to entertain people, apart from rolling over, that freaks me out. I even fetch the paper and break it into smaller pieces so's its easier for them to hold. That's pretty much it for now. I'll keep you posted with my adventures and knew things I learn. I'll be looking at commonly asked questions on the internet to see if I can give some advice on the matter.

To see more pics of things I have been up to in these four years and for updates on TheDogBlog follow me on Twitter @thedogblog & Pinterest username - clairej212.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading. Bye for now.