Dog Walking Re-Starts! Shortly after our last blog post, the UK entered into 10 weeks of lock-down. This resulted in a complete and total shutdown of non-essential businesses, and sadly - us! As infections subside and we begin the slow but steady return to work and some form of normality, the Happy Hounds team is eager to get back out there! We can see that many of you are going back to work too with lot's of enquiries over the last week and signing up several new pups. We've made good use of our time - undertaking a COVID-19 safety course as well as teaching our pups some great new skills too. Starting Safely Along with the COVID-19 safety training and guidance provided by the CSFG (Canine & Feline Sector Group) and our own experience, we have developed our own safety policy which looks to reduce the risk of spreading infection. There is no evidence to indicate that the virus can be spread by animals, but there is some risk of the virus being carried on pets and their belongings. Social distancing measures must be maintained throughout the handover process to help prevent the spread of the disease Ascertain the health status of each household during our work Reduce the contact at hand-over Hand cleaning procedures on entry and exit of your property Use of own leads which are cleaned daily Wiping down of pets Disinfecting of vehicles Time on your property will be kept to a minimum Adhere to the government advice on social distancing We will limit the handling of cash - where cash is required, please place in plastic food bag or similar, and have the correct change available. You can view the full policy here . So, were happy to say that we have started offering walks and puppy visits again - get in touch if you want to know more! Sarah x

So what is the BARF diet? Many dog owners are unaware of the BARF diet - BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, and includes meat and bones, vegetables, and herbs. This kind of diet is more naturally suited to a dog’s digestive system as it replicates what they would eat in the wild. This differs from most canned and dry food which contains a high percentage of grains. By feeding your dog the food that its body has evolved to digest, you will see many health benefits. What exactly are you feeding your dog? Fats, not carbs like in humans are a dog’s primary source of energy, yet canned dog contains significantly more grain that it does meat – simply because it is cheap. The industry guidelines specify 18g of protein and 5g of fat per kilo of food, but the mass-produced food providers bulk their product out up by approximately 65%, mostly with grain. These low value additives cannot be easily processed by a dog’s digestive system and are the equivalent of junk food in humans. What does this mean for your dog’s health? Well it means that their diet will contain a high percentage of low value food types that are not suited to their body. This could be the equivalent of living a life time on fast food! High grain content food will lead to bloating as it expands in the stomach and will result in larger and more frequent poo as they pass the grains that cannot be digested. Many dog’s will develop dry skin and poor fur and a mass-produced food diet might not give your dog the energy they need to live an active lifestyle. In fact there is a whole industry spawned as a result of "vet endorsed", "prescription" or "medical" foods that are designed to reduce theses symptoms. A crazy world indeed!

What are the benefits of crate training your dog? There are multiple benefits of crate training your dog – you will find it especially useful during the puppy years, and as it turns out, if they are ever injured or sick! Although some question the use of a crate (it does look like a cage after all) the benefits of training your pup to be comfortable with a crate are multiple. Trained correctly, your dog will come to love the crate and see it as a safe-haven, providing a place to escape noise and stress and get some much-needed rest. When to start crate training? The sooner the better! Obviously, as with all puppy training, the younger you can expose a pup to something the more quickly they will accept and adapt to it. Leaving them in the crate can also help accelerate toilet training. Get them used to the crate gradually with toys and treats – the excellent Zach George Dog Training can show you how! Escape the rat-race Your dog’s crate can be a place to escape for a much-needed rest, a break from kids or other dogs, and even a portable home that will always be familiar no matter where you are. As a natural den animal, dogs will take to a crate very easily, just like a child’s bedroom. Toilet training A crate encourages a dog’s instinct not to mess where they sleep, helping your dog control her bladder, and accelerating the toilet training process. Staying out of trouble Using a crate is a great way to keep your dog from getting into mischief when you can’t supervise them directly. When you are busy, and your attention is not on your pooch, it can be the perfect time for your dog to spend some down time in their crate. The benefits to you and your dog? You can enjoy peace-of-mind when leaving your dog home alone, and that she is comfortable, happy, and not chewing your sofa. She can enjoy the privacy and security of a den of her own! My own experience We first saw the benefit of a crate trained pup when on holiday. Renting a dog-friendly place and knowing that our pet would be happy to be left alone for a few hours was a game-changer. It meant that our pet could come on holiday with us and we still had the freedom to go places that we couldn’t take them. The second time we really saw the benefit was when puppy broke a bone and had to be rested. That she was already used to a crate made the whole process so much easier and led to a faster recovery.

A handy info-graphic for pet owners looking to travel within the EU post-Brexit.

5 reasons why you might hire a dog walker. How much exercise does your dog need each day?

Updates to the #NorthPortseaIsland coastal defences begin to take shape as the second phase of work is complete.