Although we have written about this subject before, we thought it would be a good time to remind you about the seriousness of Kennel Cough. With the summer holidays just around the corner and many people intending to put their pets into kennels, now is an ideal time to check your pet is fully vaccinated and that boosters are up to date.
Every now and again we all have an itch we have to scratch. Your pets do the same. If you see them having a good scratch it’s most likely just a random itch or a tickle. However, if they are constantly scratching or biting the same area and seem to be in discomfort it may be something serious.
WE HAVE DECIDED TO GO GREEN AND SAVE TREES BY EMAILING AND TEXTING VACCINATION BOOSTER REMINDERS RATHER THAN POSTING CARDS. WE WILL BE PHASING THIS IN SOON.
A healthy dog is an active dog with plenty of stimuli, a balanced diet and a loving caring environment in which it knows it’s place. Big dogs generally need big exercise so be prepared to spend many hours in parks, forests, fields. Not only is it healthy for them, but healthy for you. Taking the opportunity to jog a little with them, chase them about and throw balls for them will give you much of the recommended daily exercise we need to keep us healthy too. It is an excellent opportunity to bond with your dog, to let it socialise and for you to meet people.
Dogs are a lot of fun. They can be loving, energetic, mischievous, playful and can make you cry with laughter at some of the things they get up to. But equally, without the right training, socialisation & stimuli, they can be aggressive, destructive or fearful.
When we talk about a big dog, we are thinking of the following - GSD, Rotties, Doberman, Great Dane, Wolfhound, Mastiff types, Bulldogs, Bull Terriers- English and Staffie, Labradors and a few others.
Rottweilers originate from Germany and Italy & were originally used for herding and as guard dogs. The Roman army had dogs to protect the soldiers & herds and in Rottweil in Germany they interbred with more local dogs to form a larger dog. They continued to be used for herding & breeding but numbers went into decline during the 1800’s. They started a comeback in the early 20th century & are now a popular breed often used for working.
German Shepherd Dogs have been around since the 1890s. They were the result of cross breeding of rural sheep dogs from rural Germany by Max von Stephanitz who was aiming to produce a herding dog that could trot for long periods. The first breed show was in 1899 and since then, it has gone on to become one of the most popular breeds across the world. They are widely known as Alsatians in the UK after a change in breed name in the UK in 1917. The first registered GSD was called Horand von Grafrath
The Siamese is one of the most popular domestic cat breeds across the world. Their distinctive head shape, striking eyes & slender body make them easily recognisable. They are thought to be one of the oldest existing breeds of cat and to have come from Thailand (formerly Siam). The Siamese was much revered and for a time, only the Siamese Royal Family were allowed to have them. Their history in Siam can be dated back to the 1400’s. They were known as Moon Diamonds in Siam and thought to be able to ward away evil spirits. When the breed travelled to the West is unknown exactly, however, In 1880 the King of Siam gave two pairs of Siamese cats to the English consul-general in Bangkok, and he brought them back to England.
There has been a lot of interest in the urban fox attack story of the Chihuahua Lexi Reeves being attacked by a fox in Basildon, Essex on 5th March. Some see the fox as vermin that should be destroyed, others as part of the natural landscape whose land we are invading with our housing. Whatever your view, urban foxes are among us and look to be set to stay.
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