Lords & Labradors Information Hub

Everything You Need For Your New Tonkinese Kitten

The Tonkinese is a beautiful, medium sized breed of cat known for its intelligence and loving nature. They love company, both that of humans and other animals. They are perfectly suited to the life of a house cat, as long as they have company around most of the day; they don’t appreciate being left alone for long periods. They make great pets and are an increasingly popular choice for pet owners. Here we take a look at the history of the breed and look at all the things you will need if you are getting ready to welcome one in to your home.    The History Of The Tonkinese Breed The Tonkinese were originally a crossbreed between the Siamese and Burmese, becoming recognised as a breed in their own right in the latter half of the 20th century. They have since become increasingly popular amongst both pet owners and show cat owners. They are a medium sized breed with distinctive almond shaped eyes. Perhaps best known in their Siamese-like colouring, there are in fact a broad spectrum of coat colours and patterns in the breed - with 78 combinations of coat colour and markings! Their intelligence makes them quick learners and they are quite capable of learning a trick or two. They can be vocal, just like their Siamese cousins and are known for being extremely affectionate (although perhaps not as loud as Siamese!). They will love spending time with you and other pets. This does mean they can get bored easily - so ensure you give them plenty of stimulation and they will live happily content lives.       Tonkinese Shopping List So you’ve decided to bring one of these beautiful cats into your home? Here are the cat products we recommend you have ready for their arrival! Travelling Home With Your Kitten: Cat Carrier It is essential that you travel safely with your new kitten, even short journeys will require a good quality cat carrier that can be fastened securely in to the car. Carriers are great as they're safe for various forms of transport and have some wonderful features. There is often a shoulder strap for comfortable carrying too!   Kitten Blanket Kittens love a warm snuggle. A blanket will allow them to curl up and snooze and give them a feeling of security, We’d suggest leaving a blanket with the breeder in the run-up to bringing them home so the blanket can be left with Mum for a while. Then when you bring kitten home with the blanket they will have the comforting scent of Mum with them.   Soft Toy Like the blanket, a snuggle toy will offer a comforting cuddle to nervous new kittens. Moving in to their new home is a big step for new kittens, so making them feel as settled and secure as possible is the most important thing.    Moving Kitten Into Their New Home: Kitten Bed Cats are notorious for sleeping wherever they like around the house; sunny window sills, the top of a wardrobe, the back of the sofa… you name it, your kitten will probably enjoy a snooze on it! It’s still important to give your kitten a dedicated bed though. You can pop their snuggle blanket and toys in there; and it will be a place of their own for them to retreat to when they need a break from the rest of the house.      Cat Bowls & Saucers Feeding time will probably become one of  your kitten’s favourite times of the day. You will need at least two bowls for food and water - three if you want to separate dry and wet food. We have a wonderful range of melamine bowls by Tarhong. The new Cactus design is particularly adorable, but there are also many other designs to choose from to suit all tastes and interiors.   Scratch Post or Tree Your cat will have a strong instinct to scratch. This isn’t a bad habit, but actually promotes healthy claws and allows them to stretch their muscles. Cats are like athletes and need to ensure their muscles are primed for all that climbing and jumping! With this in mind, you need to provide an area where you can allow and encourage them to scratch that isn’t your furniture. A tall scratch post is ideal. If your cat is going to live indoors we’d suggest a tree that is on the larger side with multiple platforms and posts. This will give them a place to climb and exercise as they would outside. Giving your indoor cat plenty to do will also ensure boredom doesn’t set in.   Cat Litter Tray & Accessories Your cat will need somewhere to toilet inside the house. Even if they will be allowed outside, giving them a litter tray indoors is always advised for the occasions where weather doesn’t permit outdoor pursuits; or if your cat has to be kept indoors for medical reasons. We’d recommend the Cat Washroom with a standard litter tray inside. A white wooden piece of furniture that will complement most interiors, our L&L Cat washroom is a great way to disguise your cat’s litter tray. Use a good quality clumping cat litter and you’ll be all set for litter training.   Catnip Toys We all know kittens are playful. This, teamed with their instinct to hunt and chase, means they will love a toy or two. We offer an array of brightly coloured toys featuring interesting textures and sounds for your cat to explore, such as feathers, rattles and bells, as well as an impressive selection of catnip toys they won’t be able to get enough. Buy a few different ones and try to swap them around so they don’t get bored of them.   Feather Wand Teaser In a similar vein to catnip toys, your cat will love playing with a feather teaser. A wand toy has the added benefit of including you in the fun - playing with your cat is good bonding time and the perfect chance to spend valuable time with your feline friend.    Activity Toys If you want to add an extra dimension to your cat’s playtime, you could try the interactive toys by Catit. Catit have designed a series of accessories that can be used alone or in conjunction with each other. Each one is designed to appeal to a specific feline sense - hence the name ‘Catit Senses’! Your cat will love chasing a ball around a Senses track system, or digging for treats in the Digger accessory. Explore the collection and create the ultimate kitten playground.   Pet Calming Products Feliway is designed to stop unwanted cat behaviours around the home. Settling into a new home can be stressful for a kitten. Stress can lead to all kinds of unwanted behaviour such as scratching furniture and toileting in the wrong places. Feliway is a good place to start when trying to stop this behaviour. Simply plug it in and the diffuser will release a scent that mimics the pheromones that cat’s leave on furniture - basically their smell of home.

By Zac Girdlestone

Why Won't My Dog Walk?

Daily walks are a natural and important part of a dog’s life, and by taking your furry friend for a trip around your local area, you can exercise them while providing mental stimulation - helping to prevent them from becoming restless and upset. It’s also only likely to benefit the relationship between you and your dog, as walking is commonly associated with bonding, training and building closer ties with your canine pal. Most dogs will quite literally leap at the chance to go for a walk with their owner, but it’s also possible for them to be apprehensive when it comes to getting out on the lead. You may have found your pup pulling backwards, hiding when it's time to put their harness on, or simply refusing to let you clip their lead on. In this guide, we take a closer look at why your dog might be refusing to walk and offer tips to help your address the problem. Why Doesn’t My Dog Want To Walk? More often than not, dogs love going out with their human companions. As long as they’ve got the energy, they should be jumping at the chance to go exploring with you as soon as you bring out the lead or harness and begin to prepare for your trip out together. With this in mind, if your pooch doesn’t seem excited at the prospect or doesn’t appear to enjoy the dog walk itself, it could be worth questioning why. Reasons why your dog may not want to walk include:  laziness  unpleasant weather  a short attention span  inexperience  a lack of routine  fear  an uncomfortable harness, collar or lead  tiredness  a lack of trust  illness  an undiagnosed injury     What To Do When Your Dog Refuses To Walk When trying to find out why your pet is reluctant to walk, start by checking if they are injured or unwell. If you think they may be, you should seek advice from a professional - call your veterinarian with your concerns and they may want to check them over to make sure there is nothing to worry about. If you don’t check that your dog is okay prior to your walk, you could be forcing them to exercise when they’re in pain, not only hurting your dog but also potentially worsening their condition. For mental or emotional issues, for example if your dog is frightened, untrusting, out of routine or simply not used to going on walks, you should steadily introduce them to the concept by walking them around your garden connected to their lead or harness. Once they seem happy, you can consider taking them out for a walk near where you live for a short period of time and gradually extending the duration of the walk, before taking them for walks elsewhere.   Why Is Walking Dogs Important? By walking your dog regularly, you’re providing them with the mental and physical stimulation they need. Dogs want to explore the world and it’s many sights, sounds and smells, and if you prevent them from doing this, you’re likely to leave them bored, irritable and depressed. And not only is it bad for your dog’s mental and physical health, but it could also lead to destructive behaviour. Dog walking has many benefits to your pet’s long-term development. If you start to take your furry friend for walks from a young age, you’ll get them used to the concept of going for walks consistently, and they’ll hopefully grow to enjoy these trips out. Another bonus to taking your dog for a walk is that it improves their training. It also helps with their socialising - both with humans and other animals - and it tires them out to encourage a healthy sleep when you return home.   What Happens If You Don’t Walk Your Dog? Missing the occasional walk is something that may happen naturally as a side effect of bad weather, not having the time or simply forgetting to do so. However, if it becomes a regular occurrence, it could have a negative impact on your dog. Failing to walk your dog will mean that they’re not getting enough exercise, possibly leading to serious health problems, and they also won’t be given the opportunity to socialise and learn about their environment. Without this experience, they’re likely to react in an unpredictable manner when it finally comes to interacting with other dogs, people and the outside world.   What Dogs Don’t Need Walking? While all dogs need some level of exercise each day, there are breeds that need distinctly less activity than others. For example, larger, more athletic dogs could need several walks each day, where as smaller pooches or lazier dogs are more likely to be suitably happy after a run around the back garden.   Dog breeds that typically require less exercise include: Pugs English Bulldogs French Bulldogs Bull Mastiffs Chihuahuas Shih Tzus Chow Chows Miniature Pinschers Basset Hounds Pekingese Boston Terriers Tibetan Spaniels Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Greyhounds   If your dog belongs to one of these breeds or has any of them in their family tree, it could be the reason for their apprehension when it comes to walks. If they don’t, you should or consider taking them to the vet for a health check to ensure that the problem isn’t something serious.

By Zac Girdlestone

Everything You Need For Your New Maltipoo Puppy

Are you getting a Maltipoo? Maybe you’re wondering what the best Maltipoo bed is or perhaps  what the best sized crate is for a Maltipoo? Here we take a look at the breed and its characteristics and then discuss what you will need to buy, ready to welcome them home.   Maltipoo Characteristics The Maltipoo is a cute bundle of fur, a mix between the Maltese and the Poodle. They are a small dog breed with floppy ears and the curly coat of their poodle ancestry. Maltipoos are a popular crossbreed known for their affectionate nature and playful personality. They will fit into many kinds of home too, from apartments through to larger family homes; and suit both single parents and families with children.  They are friendly, not only towards humans, but other animals too, so would make a great addition to a multi-pet household. Being affectionate, they do not like being left alone for long; something to bear in mind if you work a lot.   A list of things you need for a Maltipoo puppy Puppy Carrier - Travelling safely with your puppy is imperative and a must when it comes to collecting them and bringing them home. A compact puppy carrier that can be belted into the backseat of the car is ideal. If you can collect with someone else so you can sit with them in the backseat all the better so you can keep them company on the journey home. We love the fabric carriers as they have a mesh panel to see your puppy inside, they’re not too big and they have a handy shoulder strap. This will come in handy for trips to the Vet and other journeys too. Scent blanket -  A small scent blanket is a useful purchase even before you collect puppy. We’d suggest giving one to your breeder a couple of weeks before you collect them, so it can be left with puppy and mum. Then when you bring them home with the scent blanket, they’ll return with the scent of Mum too - a lovely comfort when they’re settling in to their new environment. Travel Bowl or Feeding Set  - If you’re travelling a long way to collect your new Maltipoo puppy, then you’ll need some feeding accessories for the journey, even if it’s just to give them a drink of water. A travel bowl is an essential for journeys along with a pet water bottle, not just for this journey but all journeys in the future. You could even invest in a travel dining set by Mobile Dog Gear which have all kinds of feeding accessories for eating and drinking on the road!    Dog Crate - The best sized crate for a Maltipoo is 30” long. The medium size in either our L&L dog crate is ideal. This size will be big enough for your puppy when they grow into an adult. Top Tip - To begin with we’d set up the crate with a Puppy Bed in one half and a puppy pad in the other - not to encourage them to toilet in their crate, but rather as a precaution, especially during the night. When they are fully toilet trained and used to their crate you can swap out the puppy bed and pad for a full sized cushion. Don’t forget a crate bowl for water too.  Puppy Bed -  A puppy bed to fit in one half of the crate will be best for your Maltese puppy. Our Cosy and Calming Puppy Crate Bed has been designed especially to fit exactly half the crate. When you come to swap it out for a full size crate cushion, you can use the half size bed outside the crate somewhere else around the house. Puppy’s can never have too many beds for lounging!! Dog Crate Cover - A crate cover might be one of the best things you buy to help with crate training your new Maltese puppy. Covering the crate gives new puppies privacy and a feeling of security. The roll down doors also help them to understand when bedtime is coming and will keep out early morning light too. These are really practical as they simply wipe clean. We make them in a variety of stylish fabrics to suit any home; all in fabrics to match you cosy & calming puppy crate bed! Puppy Plush Toy - Puppies love to snuggle and play and plush toys are great for both of these activities. We especially love the Heart Beat Sheep and Warm Bear as they both have calming, comforting features for new puppies. The former has a “heartbeat” that mimics the feel of mum, whilst the latter has a warming feeling that offers a “warm hug”! They’ll become your new Maltipoo’s best friends in no time! Puppy Chew Toy - Puppy’s can chew for a number of reasons; inquisitiveness, boredom and teething. If you don’t provide some specific chew toys, you may find they’ll chew their bedding or even your furniture! Some of the best chew toys for puppies and dogs are made by KONG. We especially love the puppy sized Classic KONG as well as the Teething Stick and Binkie.    First Puppy Walking Set - Lead training might not happen straight away, but you will need a lead and harness ready. We love the Hi & Light harness by Ruffwear as it gives great stability, comfort and control when puppy is learning to walk on a lead. Match with the Ruffwear Front Range Lead and you’re all set to start lead training.

By Zac Girdlestone

How To Walk A Dog

It’s the duty of every dog owner to maintain the health and development of their furry friend. Part of this is feeding them quality food, making sure they eat enough each day and carrying out training to benefit their long-term and establish what is and isn’t acceptable. Another crucial element of dog ownership is ensuring that they’re getting enough exercise by taking them for daily dog walks. In this guide, we explain how you can train your dog to behave on walks and answer a range of important questions around dog walking to improve you and your pooch’s experience.   How To Train A Dog To Walk As a starting position, you should hold the dog lead in your left hand and treats in your right hand. Your dog can then cross diagonally from your left hand with the treats above their head as an incentive to walk. You can reverse hands if you’d prefer, as long as the lead is crossing your body and the treats remain above their head. When you start to walk, raise your hand to the height of your shoulder and give a clear, consistent instruction such as ‘with me’ to indicate that you want them to move forward. Once they’ve moved forward as you instructed, give them a treat to reward them for following your instructions. During your walk, if your dog starts to stray from you, hold your position and stand still until they’re beside you and back in the starting position. Continue to repeat these steps for walking your dog, rewarding them when they stick to your instructions, and they should eventually learn the dos and don’ts. Additional steps for getting your dog to walk include: Reward them after a successful walk Use a short lead to communicate better with your dog Walk in front of your dog to establish your dominance Keep the lead on your dog after the walk to continue training at home.   How Often Should You Walk Your Dog The recommended frequency of dog walks is entirely dependent on the breed of your dog. Generally speaking though, most dogs require at least one walk per day, as even smaller dogs need exercise and stimulation. As for larger or more energetic dogs, two or even three walks a day may be necessary to sufficiently exercise them and tire them out.   How To Stop My Dog Barking While Out Walking An obstacle that may arise during dog walks is outside influences that cause your dog to bark. Whether it’s people, vehicles, the weather, other dogs or even just the excitement of the walk itself, many things can cause your dog to bark. This can ruin the experience for you and it can be unsettling for other people in the area if your dog is constantly barking. Although your dog’s knee-jerk reaction of spontaneously barking while on walks may seem hard to prevent, you may in fact be able to find a relatively simple solution. The three primary options are:  Distraction - As soon as your dog barks, get their attention and give them a treat as soon as they look at you. Continue to do this, including a consistent word to indicate what you’re doing, such as ‘look’. You can also decrease the chance of coming into contact with things that may cause your dog to bark by avoiding busy areas and immediately walking away from anything that causes them to bark. As an additional measure, you could bring their favourite squeaky toy as an effective distraction. Control - Ensure that your dog’s harness is tight enough to hold them if they’re prone to lunging when they bark. When they start barking, command them to heel, holding them firmly by the lead but not so tight that it hurts them, and reward them when they do as you say. By controlling their movement, you’ll also be discouraging them from barking or becoming flustered or overly excitable by minor influences. Desensitise - When you’ve got a grasp of exactly what is causing your dog to bark, identify it on your next walk and stand as a barrier between your dog and the trigger. As soon as your dog stops barking, reward them with a treat, and continue to do this, moving further out of the way until your dog is side by side with the thing that sets them off.   How To Stop A Dog Sniffing While Walking Along with barking, sniffing is another behaviour that can delay and disrupt your dog walk. Unfortunately, with some dogs, sniffing can be something they do relentlessly as they excitedly explore the area they’re in. Within your home, there are several methods of preventing your dog from sniffing around people, other animals and anything else they come into contact with. However, there’s a general approach for preventing unwanted sniffing during walks: To train your dog to stop sniffing, start by teaching them ‘sit’ and ‘leave it’ commands. Then, when you take them on their next walk, let them sniff what you’re happy with, but if they start sniffing something you’re not happy with, use a ‘sit’ or ‘leave it’ command to get them to stop. When they’ve resisted the urge to sniff following your command, reward them with a treat.   Why Can’t My Dog Walk Straight If your dog isn’t walking in a straight line, you may be concerned that there’s something seriously wrong with them, but it’s actually a relatively common problem. Walking in a peculiar fashion or moving in a sideways motion is prevalent among specific breeds such as German shepherds, border collies, pointers, spaniels and vizslas. These quirks in their movement are primarily caused by their body shape and genetics  If your dog is a different breed, this issue could be caused by a distraction that’s leading them to edge away from your path. If this is the case, the distraction techniques used to stop them barking or sniffing may be a suitable solution. Alternatively, it could be the case that they have a problem with their joints. If training doesn’t fix their walking pattern, you should consider taking your dog to a vet.   How To Protect Your Dog From Other Dogs While Walking Your pet is likely to see other dogs during walks, and when they do, they may become very anxious or aggressive. This is because they might perceive another dog as a threat or simply become too excited and not know how to deal with it.  Standing between your dog and other dogs will help to prevent them from seeing each other and reduce the risk of the situation escalating. You can also use distractions - whether it’s through treats, squeaky toys or commands - to deter your dog from reacting in a bad way. If you’re unable to prevent a confrontation between dogs that are off their leads, the best thing you can do is attempt to get their attention at a distance. You may be tempted to split them up yourself, but this is only likely to get them more excitable and may even lead to you or the dogs being injured.

By Zac Girdlestone

Dog Owners’ Guide: Helping Our Dogs Cope With Stress And Anxiety

By Zac Girdlestone

Our Favourite Dog Accessories For A Café Date In Town

It has been rather a long time since most of us were able to go out for a coffee. Lockdown measures meant our excursions were limited to an hour a day and only for a walk, run or other form of exercise. But now lockdown measures are lifting in most places, cafés and restaurants have been starting to open with take-away offerings, and from this weekend we will see bars opening for the first time with strict social distancing measures. For us, just a simple coffee date in town with a friend will feel like such a treat! The next time we’re in town on a fine day, you’ll probably find us sitting outside our favourite coffee shop with our dogs.  With this in mind we’ve been thinking about some of our favourite dog accessories for a café date in town. Cute walking sets and leads designed to clip around a chair leg are the perfect update to your dog’s post-lockdown walking accessory collection.   The Hiro + Wolf Dog Walking Accessory Range We love everything by Hiro + Wolf! Their stunning range of hand designed prints are so eye catching and come in a style to suit everyone. In each print is a range of stylish, yet practical accessories so your dog can make a fashion statement on your next trip into town. One of our favourite pieces in the collection is the Café Dog Lead as it is so versatile. One of the problems when dining out with your dog is what to do with your dog’s lead. It’s a pain if the only option is to try tying a standard lead around something or even resort to standing on it. But the café lead is designed just for moments like this. It has a trigger hook attachment so the handle can be undone and looped around anything whether it’s a chair leg or the railing that you’re sitting next to. No more putting your foot through the loop of the handle when you’re sitting down for a drink! The leads are beautifully made too. The printed fabrics are handmade in Britain and trimmed with strong durable leather and pet-safe metal fittings. The best thing is that there are collars, bow ties, bandanas and harnesses all to match so you can coordinate your dog’s look from nose to tail! Don’t forget their leather poo bag pouches too; that simply clip on to the D-ring of the lead and look like a fashionable charm - they'd look just as good clipped to your keyring or bag!   Feeding your dog on the go If you’re going to be out for a while you will need to take some kind of food and water provisions with you. Take a small travel set with you so your pup can join in the coffee date with you. We love the Travel bags by Mobile Dog Gear, the small dine away set has everything you’d  need to give your dog a quick snack when you’re out. Pop in a water bottle by Dexas and you’re ready to go!   A Sweet Dog Treat by Barking Bakery Don’t let your dog miss out on a scrumptious snack whilst you’re eating a muffin with your coffee. The Barking Bakery Vanilla and Carob Cookie is a beautifully decorated “iced” cookies for dogs. Small enough to pop in your bag for any trip into town and a lovely treat for after lunch. Alternatively one of the treats on a chew stick by BonBon Pooch are ideal to take out with you. Again, they are easy to store in a travel bag and look super cute too. 

By Zac Girdlestone

Everything You Need For Your New Yorkipoo Puppy

Small bundles of cuteness, Yorkipoos will be a friendly, playful and intelligent addition to your family. If you’ve never had a Yorkipoo before, or any kind of dog for that matter, you might be wondering “What do I need to get”? Well we’re here to help! In this article we’ll discuss a little more about the breed and their history as well as give you a detailed list of all the things you should consider when putting your puppy shopping list together.   About the Yorkipoo Breed Yorkipoos were first cross bred in the 80’s/90’s with the idea of combining the best traits of both the Poodle and Yorkshire Terrier breeds. In effect, they can be friendly, people oriented puppies with a low shedding coat. As puppies, it’s hard to resist them with their tiny frame and cute sparkling eyes, but don’t let this fool you; they can be full of character too! It’s well worth remembering though, that the Yorkipoo is a cross-breed and therefore traits will almost certainly vary from puppy to puppy - no one trait is guaranteed. They tend to be tiny in frame, usually being bred from Toy or Miniature poodles. They make great companion pets and don’tt like to be left alone for long periods of time. If you work full time, you may want to find a friend or family member who can pop in every now and then. Overall they make great pets for both city and country dwellers and tend to be easy to train. So what do you need for a Yorkipoo? Here’s our list   For the Journey Home with Puppy Small Pet Carrier - A small yet sturdy pet carrier is a must. Whether you’re picking them up from only a short distance away or you’re travelling a hundred miles or more, a good quality dog carrier will ensure you get your new Yorkipoo home safely. We’d suggest a small size that can be belted into the back of a car, such as the Trixie Friends on Tour Killian Carrier. It has vented sides so your puppy can see out and you can see in and it’s the perfect compact size for your little puppy. It will be great for trips to the pet or general days out too.     Pet Blanket - You’ll want to keep your pup snug in the car and a blanket is perfect for that. We’d suggest giving your breeder a blanket a few weeks before you collect them so they can sleep with it before you pick them. This way they’ll have the smell of Mum with them after they leave. Our Luxury Velvet Scent Blankets are designed with this in mind and are ideal as a comforter for puppies. We also make velvet blankets in medium and large sizes which are great additions to your dog’s bed well into adulthood.     Pet Travel Bag & Accessories - Ensure you have all the things you’ll need for the journey home. Mobile Dog Gear make a great range of travel bags for dogs that include some essential travel feeding accessories. Available in a range of sizes from the Weekender Backpack to the oh-so-spacious Week Away Duffle Bag there is something here for every length of journey. We’d suggest the Week Away Backpack for the day you bring your puppy home. It is a compact size and will be just enough room for your travel essentials and any accessories your breeder might give you. It even has a handy pouch for some dry food or snacks for longer journeys.    Puppy Wipes - Puppy wipes are an essential for any puppy travel bag - you never know when pup might get into a mess! We love the Clean Sheets by Animology. They are completely pet safe and contain a rinse-free shampoo solution so that you can wipe your puppy clean and give their coat some conditioning love at the same time. For Settling Puppy in at Home     Once home it is important to settle your puppy into the dedicated space that you have planned out for them. You won’t want to give them the run of the house just yet; they need to settle into their new environment and routine first. Here are the things we’d suggest providing them. Small 24” Crate - Your Yorkipoo will still only be a small toy dog once fully grown so a small 24” crate will be perfect from puppy through to adulthood. Our deluxe L&L crate is ideal - it has two doors for easy access no matter the location and a removable tray to make cleaning really simple. We’d suggest first setting it up with a small crate bed in one half  and a puppy pad in the other along with a crate bowl for water. This is the perfect puppy crate set-up and will help with the nighttime routine. Add a crate cover so that puppy learns to know that “doors down” means bedtime. Puppy Crate Bed - Our new Puppy Crate bed is designed to fit in exactly half of your puppy’s crate (buy the small 24” to fill half the 24” crate). It is a super squishy padded bed with a reversible sherpa fleece topper for comfort and one of our signature cotton prints on the outer. This is ideal to use in the puppy crate set-up and can be swapped out for a full size cushion as your puppy grows up. When you do take it out of the crate it will make a great spare bed to pop in another room around the house. Dog Crate cover - A crate cover will not only make the unsightly crate look more attractive, but will offer privacy and comfort to nervous pups as well as help get them into their nighttime routine quickly and efficiently. The doors can be rolled up and down at nighttime and they're machine washable as often as you need. Our covers come in other fabrics too so do explore the rest of the range.    Puppy Pads - A puppy pad is a must for house and potty training puppies. Pop one in one side of the crate at nighttime “just-in-case” and leave one in your puppies playpen during the day too. This isn’t to encourage puppy to toilet in the house, but is just a precaution if you don’t get them outside quickly enough. Make sure you are taking puppy outside to toilet at regular intervals throughout the day, but have a puppy pad to hand for emergencies. Two Small Feeding Bowls - You’ll want a set of feeding bowls - at least two for food and water, maybe a third to pop down for dry and wet food. There are a whole variety to choose from in our Dog Bowls section so do have a browse. How about treating your new pup to their own personalised dog bowl by Purple Glaze? They come in a variety of designs such as the adorable pastel coloured ones with bone shaped name plaque.   Puppy Walking Set - Lead training might not be the first thing you attempt, but it won’t be long before you're getting your new pup used to their harness and lead. An XXS Hi & Light Harness is ideal for lead training along with a matching Front Range Lead. The harness will give good control whilst they’re still learning and won’t be uncomfortable if they pull a little too much at the start.    Full Crate Set with Bumper and Cover - When puppy is fully toilet trained and you no longer need to put puppy pads down as precaution, you can finally swap out your puppy bed for a full crate set. The same crate you used initially will be fine, but exchange the small bed for a full size small cushion and matching bumper to create the ultimate doggie den. You could swap the oilcloth cover for a more sumptuous cotton lined cover too, or why not explore our Balmoral Tweeds range? Whatever your taste there is a crate set to suit your home.  

By Zac Girdlestone

The Advantages of Microchipping Your Pet - National Microchipping Month

June is national microchipping month here in the UK, so what better time to talk about what microchipping is and the benefits? Microchipping is one of the most effective ways of protecting your dog or cat in the event that they are lost or stolen. Thousands of pets are reported missing every year and a large proportion of those are never reunited with their rightful owner. The main reason for them not making it back home is the inability to trace their family. It’s now a legal requirement that all dogs and cats in the UK are microchipped Here we take a look at all the benefits and explain why we think you should definitely get your pets, cat and dog alike, microchipped. In this article, we will explore the benefits of microchipping, the laws surrounding microchipping for different pets, the procedure itself, and how to register and update your pet's microchip details. So let's dive in and learn more about this valuable tool in ensuring the safety and well-being of our pets. Microchipping Overview A microchip is a tiny ID device which can be scanned to identify a pet They are used to identify lost or stolen pets and reunite them with their owners It’s a legal requirement for dogs over the age of 8 weeks and kittens over the age of 20 weeks to be microchipped It’s a quick procedure which is relatively painless
   What Is A Microchip? Microchips are tiny devices that are the size of a grain of rice, they are implanted just below the pet’s skin, usually by your Vet. It is a very simple procedure, similar to a vaccination that needs no anaesthesia or special treatment. The microchip carries all the important information needed to trace you, the owner, should your cat or dog lose their way. These microchips can then be read by a handheld device that will display the owners information. Most veterinarians and animal shelters will have one of these devices, so the chip can be read and the owner contacted if the pet is lost.   Does Getting A Microchip Hurt? Your vet will use a needle to insert the microchip so it may be a little uncomfortable for your pet, however it only take a few seconds. Many pets don’t even notice!   What Pets Can Be Microchipped? A lot of pets can be microchipped, the most common ones are dogs, cats, horses and rabbits. If you’re not sure your vet will be able to advise you on whether microchipping is suitable for your pet.   What Are The Microchip Laws Microchipping Your Dog Laws Microchipping your dog is compulsory in the UK, we’ve put everything you need to know about microchipping your dog below: All dogs over 8 weeks old must be microchipped As a breeder it’s your responsibility to microchip any puppies by 8 weeks old As a dog owner it’s your responsibility to make sure your dog’s microchip details are up to date As well as having up to date microchip details, your dog should wear a collar with an ID tag on. You’re required to put your surname and address on the tag, we also recommend putting a contact number and ‘I’m Microchipped’ on there just in case your dog does go missing it will hopefully make being reunited that little bit quicker. Microchipping Your Cat Laws As of March 2023, it’s now the law to get your kitten microchipped before they’re 20 weeks old. The government have given owners until 10th June 2024 to microchip their cats As an owner it your responsibility to make sure that your cat is microchipped and that your details are up to date We recommend microchipping your cat if they are either indoor or outdoor, this way if they go missing you can ensure they’re easy to identify and return home Microchipping Other Pets Laws It’s not a legal requirement in the UK to have any other pets microchipped, it’s a good thing to consider. You can microchip most pets, including rabbits, guinea pigs, tortoises and other small family pets which are known for escaping.   What Happens If I Don’t Microchip My Pet? If you’re pet is found without a microchip you could be served with an order to microchip them within 21 days, if you don’t do it in that time frame you could be liable to pay a £500 fine.   How Do I Get My Pet Microchipped? To get your pet microchipped all you’ll need to do is make an appointment with your vet or another qualified person, some rescue centres have trained staff who can also microchip pets. The most important thing to make sure of is that whoever is microchipping your pet is trained to do so.   The Benefits of Microchipping your Pet A microchip can’t be lost - Whilst an ID tag on a collar is useful, these can be lost or break off quite easily. Some indoor pets may not even wear a collar, in which case a microchip is an ideal way of ensuring your pet is traceable. A microchip offers definitive proof -  If your cat or dog is stolen, the microchip offers definitive proof of ownership.  A collar can easily be swapped, but a microchip can’t be removed.    Microchips have been proven to increase the likelihood of your lost pet being returned - Whilst findings vary slightly from study to study, the overall findings are the same. Microchipped pets are much more likely to be returned to their owners than none-microchipped pets. Some studies find that the chances are increased by as much 50%. Some microchips now come with added capabilities - Some chips come with the ability to program them to a pet door flap so only your pets can come and go. This is really handy to stop other animals from accessing your house.   How Much Does It Cost To Microchip Your Pets? It usually cost between £10-£15 to microchip your pet, however this varies depending on where you get it done. Some charities, such as Blue Cross, actually offer microchipping for free so it’s definitely worth seeing if there’s a rescue centre local to you that has a microchipping scheme.   How Do I Register My Pet’s Microchip? When your pet gets microchipped they will give the microchipping database company your details. They will ask for your name, address, phone number, pet’s details and emergency contacts. If your puppy or kitten gets microchipped by the breeder they should give you a form or contact details for the microchipping company so you can update their chip with your details.   How Do I Update My Pet’s Microchip Details? If you’re moving house or change phone numbers you will need to update your pet’s microchip details. How to do this will depend on which microchip database company your pet’s microchip is registered to (you can check this on www.checkachip.com), but usually you will have an online account that you can log in to and update any details.   What Should I Do If I Rehome Or Sell My Pet Before you sell or rehome your dog we recommend updating the microchip database details to the new owners.   What Should I Do If My Pet Is Lost Or Stolen If your pet is lost or stolen, we recommend calling your pet’s microchip database company straight away to report them missing. They will be able to check your details are up to date and flag on the system that the pet associated with that microchip is missing. This way if their microchip is scanned by a vet or a dog warden it will alert to them they’re missing or stolen, and they will then be able to get in contact with you and reunite you with your pet.   How Long Do Microchips Last For
? Microchips are designed to last your pet’s lifetime. It’s very rare for them to become faulty or not scan, if this does happen the microchip company will usually replace it for free. So what are you waiting for?! If you haven’t already got your pet microchipped, then we’d strongly suggest doing so, you never know when you’ll need it!

By Zac Girdlestone