Microchip blog

Did you know June was national microchip month. As a greyhound I'm chipped and have an additional identification as my ears are tattooed. In many parts of Europe they just use tattoos. As I'm Irish both both of my ears are tattooed whereas British greyhounds only have 1 ear tattooed.
Anyway enough about tattoos microchipping is very important so that if you dog runs off, jumps the garden fence or is stolen the chip can be read and the owner can be contacted. Look as the video below and see how excited dogs get when hoomans come home.

Being chipped is great but are your hoomans details up to date. Have you changed mobile or home number due to pesky cold callers or moved house. If so you details need updating.

I have petlog premium and when I go to Grandad's in Kent for the weekend Hoodad tells petlog via the computer that I'm there. He's also saved the address for other holipop places that we visit.

Please fur friends either get your pets chipped and check your details.

Note: As of 2016 it will be compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped and your contact details up to date.

Fireworks blog

Ok so it's fireworks night. It may be all oooohs and aaaahs for hoomans but it is not always fun for us hounds. So I'm going to give you a few of my tips to avoid getting too stressed.

Firstly recognise when your dog is stressed signs can be -

Panting
Raised ears
Barking, howling
Pacing up and down unable to settle
Shaking
Tail curled under your belly (if you have a long tail like me)
Dribbling
Not willing to eat or drink

What can you do to help ease the stress.

Get the hoomans to take you out for a long walk so you are tired and sleep through them. My hoomans took time off work and took Star and I out for 2 hours this afternoon.

Have a large tea with starch in it. We had chicken and pasta with our kibble. Like hoomans a large meal makes you sleepy.

Hoomans had the surround sound on strictly come dancing on loud. Any music is a good one to drown out the noise. Won't recommend a noisy action film incase the explosions scare you.

Outside help

Drugs - only joking chemicals that can help you.

Tablets such as skullcap and Valerian tablets from Dorwest

I have mine wrapped in ham so nommie.

Aromatherapy such as an Adaptil plug in. Makes you sleepy.

Two other techniques I have up my sleeve are a tellington ttouch body wrap or a Thundershirt. These give me a comforting cuddle and relaxes me.

These are some of my suggestions to help with the fireworks but the clever hoomans at The Kennel club have some great ideas. So please follow the blue hyperlink to read their advise.

Kennel club fireworks advise

Puppy awareness week blog

Time to tell you about what is special about this week. 8th-14th September is National puppy awareness week !

Why do I need to talk to you about puppies we all know they are cute and lovely bundles of energy. Unfortunately it's not about them but to insure you buy a puppy from a registered kennel club breeder. As well as trying to stop puppy farms.

Please watch this video that will show you more but some of the scenes that dogs raised in puppy farms live in. You may find some scenes disturbing.

Hey I sound like a television programme! But it's serious.

After watching the video the first thing I then did was download a twibbon for my twitter account you can do yours by http://twb.ly/RGZWOb

In a recent study for the Kennel Club it found 20% of puppy owners bought their pet on the internet, a pet shop or a newspaper ad, all outlets used to sell farmed puppies, instead of direct from the breeder or a rescue home.

It revealed 30% had not seen their puppy with its mother, rising to 37% of those who bought their puppy from a newspaper ad, online or a pet shop, while 31% did not see their puppy in its breeding environment, rising to 40% of those buying from newspaper ads, pet shops and online.

"Puppy farmers and scam artists cash in on this. I urge potential puppy buyers to steer well clear of any breeder or outlet that does not assess your suitability as a dog owner and doesn't give you every opportunity to vet their suitability as a breeder."

I personally know of someone that bought a border collie from a service station. The following day developed a lot of pain a cough and a rash. £400 vets bill but 2 days later had to be out to sleep.

In closing

Stop and spot the signs of an irresponsible breeder
Tell the relevant authorities if you suspect a puppy farmer
Opt for a Kennel Club Assured Breeder or rescue dog
Please, spread the word.