Here at Scruff, our four-legged friends will happily take to rivers, ponds or puddles but not to the warm soapy stuff. This is becoming a bit of a problem as the recent rainy weather is leaving our mutts muddier than ever. Fear not, we've discovered the solution: Happytails Instant Clean Bath Spray. Think dry shampoo for your pet. The spray deodorises and disinfects after a walk and leaves your pooches smelling of roses (well, kiwi and melon actually)- ideal.
What's more, it's just been reduced to less than half price at just £6.25!
The
adventurous pooch had made the 1.6 mile journey to the train station
after sneaking out of his front door as his owners left for work last
week.
Back in the arms of his family Picture:SWN
He then enjoyed a staggering 30 minutes as a stowaway on the train
before he was scooped up just minutes from King's Cross by train manager
Richard Cheeseman.
Frankie was kept safe in the manager's office for the remainder of the journey and was looked after by an Underground employee.
He
was eventually reunited with his desperate owner Jane Abbott, 47, after
a member of the train staff rang the contact number on his collar and
asked her to come and collect her pet - from King's Cross.
Jane had been frantically searching her home and neighbourhood in Gravesend, Kent, for hours before receiving the call.
Jane said: "I normally get greeted by Frankie when I get up, but not this morning.
"I looked all over the house and in the garden but there was no sign of him."
Jane and 22-year-old daughter Stephanie paid £59 to buy high-speed rush-hour tickets to go to London to retrieve their pet.
The number of dogs being picked up as strays has fallen by more than a fifth since last year, according to a survey.
The Stray Dog Survey, conducted by GfK NOP on behalf of the charity
Dogs Trust, said the total number of stray dogs in Scotland fell by 23%
from 5,889 in 2011 to 4,524 in 2012.
It was a greater fall than the UK average, which has seen a 6% drop
over the last year to 118,932 and means, on average, that 12 dogs are
picked up a day in Scotland.
Dogs Trust said the figures are "impressive".
Clarissa Baldwin, chief executive of the dog welfare charity, said:
"This year's Stray Dog Survey represents encouraging news for Scotland's
dogs with a significant decline in the numbers of dogs picked up as
strays.
"Dogs Trust works closely with local authorities and runs extensive
education, neutering and microchipping campaigns to help them to tackle
the issue - this is clearly paying off.
"Local authorities should be congratulated for all of their hard work."
This Summer Scruff would like to welcome to the family Greyhound
Sanctuary. Established in 2007 in the West Country, Greyhound Sanctuary
aim to rescue and rehome abandoned, abused or unwanted greyhounds.
Currently Greyhound Sanctuary are using boarding kennels at Kinnings
Farm, but as a young and still growing charity, kennel space is
limited.
Though
Greyhound Sanctuary is currently small, their fundraising attempts
certainly are not! This year on September 9th, Greyhound Sanctuary will
be holding a 1000 Greyhounds World Record attempt for largest single
breed dog walk at Eton, Devon. So why not take part in the fun, and
help raise funds for dog charity?
Visit 1000 Greyhounds World Record Attempt for more information on the
event, how to
take part, what you are supporting, the charities involved, rules and
much more!
And
to show our support for this event, as well as the great work that the
folks at Greyhound Sanctuary are doing, we are offering all supporters
of this World Record attempt 10% off. Just type "WorldRecord" to take
advantage of this offer!
Barely a day after winning his Olympic medals, Andy Murray has already had them snatched away from him... by two dogs.
Maggie
May and Rusty, the gold and silver medallists in the photograph, belong
to Murray and his girlfriend Kim Sears - who sat and cheered the Scot
on as he beat Roger Federer in straight sets yesterday. Tweeted
by Sears, who set up an account for Maggie May last year, the photo
shows the dog, and another dog, Rusty, wearing Murray's medals with
pride.
And the medals go to... Maggie May (right) and Rusty (left) don Andy Murray's two Olympic medals
Barely a day after the Scot took gold in
the singles and silver, with Laura Robson in the mixed doubles, the two
pooches appear to have snatched them for themselves.
The Wacky Walk'r is a new concept in dog leads. Made of stretchy latex
derived from 100% natural rubber tubing as used in the fitness industry.
This ergonomically correct lead relieves stress for both dog and
walker.
With the sun finally coming out to play here in GB, are you planning on taking a trip with the family, including the dog? You might need some travelling products!!!
She was spotted trembling in the rain, an adorable puppy all the more
vulnerable because of a skin condition which means she doesn’t have a
single hair on her body.
Adorable Splash was abandoned in torrential rain.
Cruelly abandoned by her owner, the young Staffordshire cross was found
wandering the streets of Leeds during the worst of Yorkshire’s
torrential rain last Friday.
It was a concerned passer-by who saw her suffering and alerted the Dogs Trust.
Splash has a skin condition which has left her mostly bald.
Now being sheltered by the animal charity, staff have fallen in love with the 12-week-old puppy and have named her Splash.
Amanda
Sands, Dogs Trust Leeds manager, said: “Poor Splash endured an awful
day when she was found on Friday. The rain had been relentless and
spending all day out in it is unimaginable.
“Although Splash’s
chronic skin condition isn’t infectious, it does means that she
experiences itching and pain but she is starting to make leaps and
bounds now that she is receiving the vet treatment she needs and the
love and attention she deserves.”
The Dogs Trust is now calling
for potential new owners to provide Splash with a happy home. She would
need regular checkups because of her skin condition, known as demodectic
mange.
“Splash needs an owner who can provide her with the
tender loving care she has missed out on,” said Ms Sands said. “She is
very loving and affectionate and would make a wonderful friend for
someone.”
According
to Sir James Munby, chairman of the Law Commission for England and
Wales: "Getting rid of statutory dead wood helps to simplify and
modernise our law, making it more intelligible. It saves time and costs
for lawyers and others who need to know what the law actually is, and
makes it easier for citizens to access justice."
This
might sound like a rather dry and dull business. But some of the laws
facing the chop are frankly bizarre, and makes you wonder why they have
been left on the statute book for so long.
Among the legislation up for the axe are:
- an 1800 Act to hold a lottery to win the £30,000 Pigot Diamond,
then the most expensive jewel in Europe. The law allowed for the
issuing of up to 11,428 tickets, at two guineas each, and for a lottery
to be held in January 1801. The prize was won by a syndicate.
- a 1696 turnpike Act to repair the roads between Reigate and Crawley.
- 16 Acts passed between 1798 and 1828 to impose duty on every pint of ale, beer or porter brewed or sold in parts of Scotland.
-
the Forgery of Foreign Bills Act 1803, which prohibited forging and
counterfeiting any "bill of exchange or promissory note or money order
belonging to any foreign state (with intent to deceive 'his Majesty, his heirs and successors'),
tendering such forgeries, engraving plates for bills of exchange and
the like without authority, possessing such plates, and printing
unlawful instruments."
- the Sale of Offices Act 1809, which was passed as a consequence of a scandal involving the Duke of York, the head of the army, and his mistress.
The woman in question, a Mrs Clarke, was proven to have taken money
from those who wished to buy promotion or favours within the army. It
was alleged that the Duke of York knew of her sales of office, and even
that he took a share of the proceeds.
According to a history
of the era: "For two months witnesses were examined from the underworld
of London society. In the end it was carried, by 278 to 196, that the
Duke of York was not guilty of personal corruption or of connivance at
corruption. But as he had clearly been guilty of allowing his mistress
to know too much of official business he was obliged, in spite of his
services to the army, to resign his official appointments."
He was reappointed to his position in 1811.
- 38 acts relating to the creation of railway companies in India during the 19th century, all of which no longer exist.
- the London Gaslight Acts 1852, 1857, 1866 and 1880, regulating the supply and distribution of gas throughout the capital
- the Erecting Bristol and Gloucester Courts of Conscience Act of 1688, allowing for
"a court of request or conscience should be established within each city, and
that local commissioners should sit on a weekly basis to determine debt actions
of up to 40 shillings in value."
- the Southwark Streets Act (1749), recording the need for street lamps and watchmen to improve security to the local residents at night.
- the Orphans, London Act (1694), passed to raise a fund to replenish an ancient fund that existed to support orphan children of Freemen of the City of London.
-
the Million Lottery Act of 1693, authorising the establishment of the
so-called Million Lottery scheme, involving the sale of up to 100,000
tickets to "natives or foreigners". This state-sponsored scheme was
designed to raise the sum of £1 million "towards carrying on the war against France".
- The Llanfyllin and Llangynog Railway Act 1873 was passed to authorise the
Llanfyllin and Llangynog Railway Company to construct a railway in Powys
between, unsurprisingly, the parishes of Llanfyllin and Llangynog. It never happened.
The
earliest repeal of all dates from around 1322, and is called Statutes
of the Exchequer. Its full title is: "What Distress shall be taken for
the King's Debts, and how it shall be used". These statutes regulated the taking and impounding of animals, how they were to be fed, cared for and sold, and what livestock was to be exempt.
The
most recent law up for the chop is part of the Taxation (International
and Other Provisions) Act - passed just two years ago in 2010.
The Olympic games are always a wonderful time to see the world coming
together. This year’s Olympics will be even more Fit As Fido as the
Olympic torch will be accompanied along part of its journey by two
amazing service dogs and their owners.
Wendy Morrell and Udo and their good friends Karen Ruddlesden and
Coco will get their chance July 13th to help move the torch to start the
games. Wendy and Karen are also using this opportunity to help
spotlight a couple important service dog charities in the UK:
Both of these organizations train dogs that help make people more
independent and Wendy and Udo travel across the globe speaking at
conferences to help improve the lives of people with disabilities and
impairments.
For Wendy, this year’s torch carrying will bring back memories of
carrying the torch in 2008 with service dog Caesar. Wendy’s work with
Caesar and Udo has dramatically helped increase public awareness of the
incredible impact from service dogs.
Kudos to Wendy and Karen for the awesome work you’re doing to educate
people about the amazing impact of service dogs in people’s lives. Be
sure to give Udo and Coco some extra belly rubs from me and all of your
Fit As Fido friends.
Stella McCartney has designed the
official Team GB kit and Next has unveiled its collection of formal wear
for the opening ceremony.
But who is dressing the nation's mascots?
A
former business woman from North Wales has given up her boardroom job
to take on the role of dressing man's best friend in their very own
Olympic inspired dog jackets.f
Donna Condliffe wanted to design Olympic outfits for man's best friend
Donna Condliffe recently walked away
from a senior managerial role at a leading financial institution to
follow her dream of launching a luxury clothing website for dogs, just
in time for the big summer Games.
The
42-year-old turned her back on the corporate world, sold her home in
Cheshire and moved to the mountains of north Wales to set up Canine
& Co, an award-winning online dog boutique offering a wide range of
dog clothing and accessories for people who love to spoil their pets.
'The
inspiration for the Olympic dog clothes came as there is a real buzz
starting as we count down to the London 2012 games and I felt what
better way to involve our pets, in what will be a fantastic spectacle
for the whole of Great Britain.
The buzz surrounding the Olympics led to Donna's new business venture
Donna has even received an order from New Zealand for her patriotic outfits
'It will be great to see the whole
country wearing red, white and blue and really getting behind the
athletes, and how good that we can include our pets, who are, after all,
a big part of our family!'
'I
wanted to start a business on a subject I am passionate about, I am
animal mad and have 2 rescue dogs myself so it was an easy decision.
We
have had lots of orders for the Olympic inspired coats, in fact this
week one order was from New Zealand, its difficult to get one from
further away that that,' she said.
Donna, who began trading seven months
ago, has already been awarded New Business of the Year by Conwy Rural
Council and came runner-up for the prestigious awards Woman in Business
and E-commerce Business of the Year.
Donna says she doesn't regret giving up her high-powered job to spend more time in the countryside with her dogs
'People are proud of their pets and like to show them off. The website gives them the chance to do just that. There's no better way to showcase my products than to show my actual customers and their animals enjoying them,' she said.
Although her former colleagues have labelled her 'barking mad', Donna doesn't miss the pressures of the corporate world.
'I’d
much rather stick on my wellies and head out into the fields with my
dogs. Carrying their diamante studded leads of course!'
Get ready for the Summer Olympics, get your pair of Doggles from Scruff MacDuff. Come rain or shine, Doggles will protect those sensitive eyes! Buy yours now!
Adele Silva is best known for playing Kelly Windsor in
Emmerdale. Having been acting since she was a young girl, Adele has had
roles in Doctor Who, The Bill, Eastenders and more recently The Real
Hustle.
Adele spoke to Kim O’Meara about returning to Emmerdale, her latest
film, Strippers vs Werewolves and the two loves of her life, Buster and
Misty.
Tell us about your dogs – we’d like to know everything about them!
I have two dogs, Buster and Misty. They’re like little and large!
Buster is an 8 year old Yorkshire Terrier girl. We’ve always had Yorkies
in our family, we’ve had four over the years but Buster was the first
we’ve bought. She’s a funny girl really, very lovable and she snorts all
the time – she has a small windpipe so she’s always making funny
noises. She has the nicest temperament, people love her and she is so
funny, sometimes when she gets over excited she’ll wee a little. But she
has a lot of health problems sadly so she’s at the vets every two-three
months.
Out of the two, Buster is the character. When anyone comes to the
house she’ll paw at their legs for fuss. She loves any attention!
Misty is 8 years old aswell and she’s a Shar Pei. She’s the complete
opposite to Buster. She’s very stand-off ish. I bought her with an
ex-boyfriend of mine. When we got her I’d never had a big dog before,
I’d always been used to small dogs. So we went through The Kennel Club
route and found a breeder. Misty’s very aloof, she’s quiet and sticks to
one person to the point she’ll sit outside the bathroom waiting for
them. She’s a lovely girl, she has a great temperament. One memory
sticks out in my mind when she got excited when getting ready to go for a
walk, she screwed her face up, it went overly wrinkly and she was
wiggling her bum around, it was so cute to see.
She’s fiercely protective over the little one, Buster, aswell. If
people come round to see us she’ll sit and spectate for 5-10 minutes
taking it all in, wheras Buster’s all over everyone from the start happy
for fuss and attention.
I think Misty’s personality is just typical of her breed though. I
have a friend who has a Shar Pei aswell and she said her dog is just the
same.
When I go back home with them Misty is my dad’s best friend, she
sticks to him like glue – but I have a feeling that’s because he’s
always eating and she knows if she stays around by him she’ll get
something to eat.
When did your interest in pets/animals begin and how long have you been a pet owner?
We got our first Yorkie, Goldie, on my 6th birthday. Then we had
Dinky, her daughter and then Katie. By the time Katie was with us Goldie
had passed away and Misty was home with me.
I think I really benefited growing up with our dogs over the years,
my mum has always been really pro-animals. They were great family pets
and being Yorkies and small dogs, good for travelling and good with
kids.
You’ve probably best known on-screen for playing Kelly
Windsor in Emmerdale on and off since 1993. What do you love most about
Kelly and do you see her making a come back any time soon?
Well, Kelly couldn’t be any more from me so when I first read about
her in 30 seconds/1 minute I thought ‘I really don’t like her’, she’s so
sly, a bit of a bitch and has no living parents but she has so many
dimensions. In her most recent time back, I got a call and they told me a
little about her plans for coming back with a kid, how she would shake
things up with Jimmy and Nicola and they asked if I’d like to come back
for a few months.
I started acting when I was 8 years old so I have a theatre
background. I spent a lot of good years at Emmerdale and I enjoy playing
Kelly, she always had great storylines. I get itchy feet and so that’s
why I took a break to try other things. At the moment I have no real
ties apart from my dogs. I’m not married, I don’t have kids and there’s
other things I’d still like to try so I can always look back and say
‘well at least I tried’.
I think Kelly’s a ‘love to hate’ character. I’m really open minded on
it so I never say never. Emmerdale’s always a fun place to be with a
cast and crew I grew up with so it really feels like going home whenever
I go back.
Misty is 8 years old aswell and she’s a Shar Pei. She’s the complete
opposite to Buster. She’s very stand-off ish. I bought her with an
ex-boyfriend of mine. When we got her I’d never had a big dog before,
I’d always been used to small dogs. So we went through The Kennel Club
route and found a breeder. Misty’s very aloof, she’s quiet and sticks to
one person to the point she’ll sit outside the bathroom waiting for
them. She’s a lovely girl, she has a great temperament. One memory
sticks out in my mind when she got excited when getting ready to go for a
walk, she screwed her face up, it went overly wrinkly and she was
wiggling her bum around, it was so cute to see.
She’s fiercely protective over the little one, Buster, aswell. If
people come round to see us she’ll sit and spectate for 5-10 minutes
taking it all in, wheras Buster’s all over everyone from the start happy
for fuss and attention.
I think Misty’s personality is just typical of her breed though. I
have a friend who has a Shar Pei aswell and she said her dog is just the
same.
When I go back home with them Misty is my dad’s best friend, she
sticks to him like glue – but I have a feeling that’s because he’s
always eating and she knows if she stays around by him she’ll get
something to eat.
When did your interest in pets/animals begin and how long have you been a pet owner?
We got our first Yorkie, Goldie, on my 6th birthday. Then we had
Dinky, her daughter and then Katie. By the time Katie was with us Goldie
had passed away and Misty was home with me.
I think I really benefited growing up with our dogs over the years,
my mum has always been really pro-animals. They were great family pets
and being Yorkies and small dogs, good for travelling and good with
kids.
You’ve probably best known on-screen for playing Kelly
Windsor in Emmerdale on and off since 1993. What do you love most about
Kelly and do you see her making a come back any time soon?
Well, Kelly couldn’t be any more from me so when I first read about
her in 30 seconds/1 minute I thought ‘I really don’t like her’, she’s so
sly, a bit of a bitch and has no living parents but she has so many
dimensions. In her most recent time back, I got a call and they told me a
little about her plans for coming back with a kid, how she would shake
things up with Jimmy and Nicola and they asked if I’d like to come back
for a few months.
I started acting when I was 8 years old so I have a theatre
background. I spent a lot of good years at Emmerdale and I enjoy playing
Kelly, she always had great storylines. I get itchy feet and so that’s
why I took a break to try other things. At the moment I have no real
ties apart from my dogs. I’m not married, I don’t have kids and there’s
other things I’d still like to try so I can always look back and say
‘well at least I tried’.
I think Kelly’s a ‘love to hate’ character. I’m really open minded on
it so I never say never. Emmerdale’s always a fun place to be with a
cast and crew I grew up with so it really feels like going home whenever
I go back.
From Ape Dog to Big Nose, Where Does Your Dog’s Name Come From?
Some breed names have no mystery about them at all. The Golden
Retriever, the English Short Haired Pointer and the Nova Scotia Duck
Tolling Retriever being cases in point, they’re breeds that do exactly
what it says on the tin. But other breeds have such seemingly weird and
wonderful names that we thought it about time we uncovered the origins
of these monikers. Rather than coming across simple translations, we
were wowed by cultural idiosyncrasies, ancient idioms and misleading
misnomers that have all informed and altered the process by which dog
breeds have gotten their names.
Even common, everyday names such as Mastiff or Collie have colourful
and interesting etymological origins. What surprised us the most
however, was how much the origin of dog breed names tell us about the
history and culture of the place where the breed comes from.
There are certain types of dog that have collective names and further
names to differentiate separate breeds, but what does the name that
links these breeds actually mean?
Terrier, derives from the Latin terre which means ‘to go to ground.’
Mastiff, comes from the French mastin, from Latin mansuetus meaning ‘tame’.
Collie, The name Collie derives from the same Anglo-Saxon word as ‘coal’, Coll, which means ‘black’.
Pinscher, comes from the German word for ‘Terrier’ and is applied to many different types of dog.
Poodle, is a corruption of the German word Puddlehund which means ‘dog that splashes in water’
Many breeds are named after the people that bred them, whilst other
breeds, such as the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, are named in honour of
people.
The Jack Russell Terrier and the Parson Russell Terrier, are both
Welcome to the next instalment of our pet friendly travel feature
with the lovely Kate Lawler and her two dogs, Baxter and Kevin. Over the
next few issues we will be taking Kate, Baxter and Kevin on a tour of
different pet friendly hotels and areas across the UK. This issue we
travel to Devon!
Meet Kate…
I’m on a mission to find the best Dog Friendly accommodation in Great
Britain. As the owner of two dogs, I’m on a mission to discover the
best Pet Friendly Accommodation in Britain. My next review is for Kitley House Country Hotel in South Devon not far from Plymouth.
It’s a uniquely historic building set in a private rural estate on
the banks of the River Yealm. We began our journey as usual from
Birmingham so it was a pretty straightforward journey down the M5. To
break up the 3 hour road trip we stopped off an hour outside of
Yealmpton (where Kitley House is) at a lovely little seaside town called
Dawlish. The beach was wonderful for the dogs. Kevin and Baxter
stretched their legs for about an hour, having a splash in the sea and a
sprint on the sand.
Kate, Baxter and Kevin
Upon arrival at Kitley House Hotel, the sun was shining, the sky was
blue and you immediately notice just how peaceful and quiet it is. The
views are breathtaking from every point outside the stunning country
house. From the flowing river and the immaculately kept gardens, to
sheep snoozing in wide open fields next door. I’m already impressed with
just how much space there is for dogs here.
The interior of the country house is as you’d imagine. Very classic,
traditional, perhaps in need of a lick of paint but on the whole, what
you’d expect from a building that is over 500 years old. What I’m
suprised at the most is just how few rooms and suites there are, somehow
I imagined there to be a lot more but I’ll always prefer a hotel with
fewer guest rooms as it’s more relaxing so that was an added bonus.
As we make our way to ‘Reynolds Suite’
we pass a huge dining room where breakfast and evening meals are
served. An informal bar and lounge is just next door which leads out to
a balcony terrace overlooking stunning gardens. It is here where many
people are enjoying ‘afternoon cream teas’ which look delicious!
We are just one floor up from reception which is extremely handy as
we don’t have far to walk at all to take Baxter and Kevin out for toilet
time. The view is what makes our room, it is simply stunning. We are
overlooking the South Devon rural estate which is popular with walkers,
bird lovers and dog owners. The room is spacious and comfortable. Bags
of doggy biscuits for the boys were a nice suprise upon arrival as well
as a couple of books dedicated to Dog Friendly Walks in the area. A nice
touch.
Kitley House Hotel
The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, it goes without
question. Once we’d unpacked and settled in our room, it was time to try
out an ‘afternoon cream tea’. If you’re going to Kitley House, I’d
highly recommend trying one. I was in clotted cream heaven! We decided
to walk off the scones and jam by taking Baxter and Kevin on a sunshine
stroll through the rural estate. It goes on for miles and because of
the beautiful weather, we stayed out for a good hour. The boys loved
sniffing the ground, chasing pheasants, rabbits, whatever they could!
The dogs were shattered when we got back to our room about 5pm so we
freshened up with a shower and change of clothes then booked a taxi to
take us to Plymouth which was just 10 minutes away by car. We ate in a
gorgeous Thai restaurant and came home for an early night. The next
morning we woke in time for breakfast, served in a very bright and airy
dining room. I opted for smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on a toasted
crumpet. Incredible choice. The full english breakfast my boyfriend,
Adam, had was nice although he suggested Kitley House try finding a
local farmer for ingredients for local thick cut sausages.
Around mid-morning we drove to Bovisand Bay with Baxter and Kevin.
Luckily for us, the weather was amazing and it only took 15 minutes by
car. We parked up and walked down to a small but very picturesque beach
where people were sunbathing and walking their dogs. The boys met a
little parson terrier named Buddy who was deaf but delightful. They
played for ages and when we got back to Kitley House around lunch time
we found a little sun trap in the garden, ordered some food and let
Baxter and Kevin sleep in the shade. Our meals were delicious. Try the
fish finger bap! Not your average fish finger bap. Divine.
A couple arrived that afternoon and were staying with their gorgeous
Border Terrier Ruffie. She was one of the most beautiful Border Terriers
I’ve ever seen. We drank Pimms and let the dogs play together until
they were worn out and the sun went down. As it was Saturday evening,
Adam and I went to Plymouth again as there are so many fantastic
restaurants there. We ate at Zucca, an Italian which was lovely. When
we arrived back at Kitley House, we took Baxter and Kevin out to relieve
themselves and sat in the bar downstairs with other guests of the hotel
and their dogs.
There was a Murder Mystery Evening happening adjacent to the bar and
lounge we were sat in. It sounded like great fun, very lively and
entertaining. Guests of the hotel are welcome to book at reception for
the Murder Mystery which was attended mainly by guests who came to
Kitley House specifically for the Murder Mystery night. The evening
also includes a 3-course meal. Baxter chose a brilliant moment to gate
crash the room where around 100 people were eating and playing the game.
As mortified as I was, my boyfriend Adam ran in after Baxter shouting
‘He didn’t kill anyone!’ which lightened the mood of a dog running under
peoples tables and licking their legs!
We left the hotel on Sunday around 11am and I’m sure it won’t be the
last time as it was definitely our favourite stay so far for K9 Magazine.
Kitley House Hotel is an ideal base for exploring South West England,
Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall during a short break or as a longer
holiday. Make sure you go any time during Spring or Summer too as the
weather really made it that much more enjoyable.
On behalf of Greyhound Rescue Fife I would just like to take this opportunity to thank you very much for your kind donation to our recent dog show, which raised an amazing £2432.00 . We had just under 200 people coming through the doors at one point or another throughout the show. While slightly down on last year a tremendous time was still had by all and we managed to re-home a couple of dogs as well.
This event has grown from strength to strength over the last few years however, it could not continue in this form it has without support from local organisations like yourselves. Your support has helped save many abandoned greyhounds lives and for that we are extremely grateful.
We thank you very much for your kind donation and hope that you will be able to help once again next year when we will be celebrating our 6th anniversary.
A FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER IN CALIFORNIA DECIDED TO TAKE A FEW OF HIS FURRY FRIENDS, A BALL AND A HIGH RESOLOUTION UNDERWATER CAMERA, HERE ARE THE RESULTS. ENJOY!!!
A home has been found for a Staffordshire bull terrier dubbed Scotland's saddest dog.
Two-year-old Scooby has spent 15 months in kennels, longer than any other animal looked after by the Scottish SPCA.
Scooby has now found a home with new owners
Staff at the Aberdeenshire Rehoming and Rescue Centre feared he was so lonely his health was suffering.
More than 200 people got in touch, and David Prokipczyn, from West Lothian, was chosen to be Scooby's new owner.
A nationwide search for a home had been launched in April.
Centre manager Graeme Innes said: "We were completely overwhelmed by the response to our appeal.
"Scooby has spent half of his life in kennels, which is no way for a young, playful dog to live."
Scooby's new owner said: "My wife and I have been married 40 years and we've always owned dogs.
"It's only very recently that we've been without one and the house has felt so empty.
"When we read Scooby's story my wife was in tears.
"So we both agreed that we would love to offer him the good home he deserves."
Enjoying the long bank holiday weekend, wish it could be longer? Though we can't help you with that, here's some office humour to put a smile back on your face!
This Summer Scruff would like to welcome to the family Greyhound Sanctuary. Established in 2007 in the West Country, Greyhound Sanctuary aim to rescue and rehome abandoned, abused or unwanted greyhounds. Currently Greyhound Sanctuary are using boarding kennels at Kinnings Farm, but as a young and still growing charity, kennel space is limited.
Though Greyhound Sanctuary is currently small, their fundraising attempts certainly are not! This year on September 9th, Greyhound Sanctuary will be holding a 1000 Greyhounds World Record attempt for largest single breed dog walk at Eton, Devon. So why not take part in the fun, and help raise funds for dog charity?
Visit 1000 Greyhounds World Record Attempt for more information on the event, how to
take part, what you are supporting, the charities involved, rules and much more!
And to show our support for this event, as well as the great work that the folks at Greyhound Sanctuary are doing, we are offering all supporters of this World Record attempt 10% off. Just type "WorldRecord" to take advantage of this offer!
Introducing SM's new,
hot off the line, Dog socks! So what would you do with them we hear
you ask?
Well, as we know dogs
sweat through their feet, and disperse heat by panting, therefore by
putting socks on them it helps protect your dog from cold floorboards
within the home. Puppies especially have more sensitive paws as they
have yet to develop and toughen those feet by running through the
many different rough outdoor terrains. Dog socks will also help
protect your floorboards and carpet from those nails or dirty paws if
you have been out rambling with your dog.
As each sock is made
from high quality cotton, nylon, elastane and silica grip, these dog
socks are both comfortable and non-slip.
Our SM team have worked
closely with the Factory in order to ensure that the product is
comfortable to wear and of exceptional quality. Our Dog socks can be
used in or outdoor (though we recommend them for indoor use).
From blue strips, pink
beauties and yellow black patterns, you have much to choose from. As
all socks come with silica grips, you dog need not worry about
keeping your dog keeping their balance.
Ever wondered why your dog seems absolutely committed to the process of giving you a face bath with their tongue?
The first licking experienced by a puppy comes from its mother even
before the pup’s eyes are open. Licking is used to groom the pup and,
after feeding, to cause urination and defecation. It is doubtful that a
young pup consciously considers licking a dominant behaviour.
However, the act of licking can acquire various other meanings to
puppies as they mature and gain feedback from other animals (including
people) they lick.
Licking by neonatal pups is usually aimed at the dam’s mouth and, at
least in wild canines, elicits a gratifying regurgitation of food
by the dam for its offspring. Oh yes, you read that right. It may
suddenly occur to you, if you didn’t know already, that your dog’s
licking attack is not a show of unbridled affection but more an attempt
to make you throw up in order that they can scoff whatever it is you
last ate. Sweet, yes?
Licking another animal can broadly be classified as care-seeking
behaviour. However, in some females and apparently “feminized” males,
licking may occur as a genuine mutual grooming gesture, which could be
considered dominant behaviour in such situations. When one dog tries to
lick the genitals of another, the behaviour is considered submissive.
This is usually practised by submissive pack members toward their
dominant counterparts.
When Excessive Licking Becomes a Problem
Licking seems to acquire different meanings when the puppy is brought
into the human group. The significance of licking then depends on the
type of feedback provided by the pup or its owners. The old idea that dogs lick our hands to benefit from the salt on our skin rarely applies to licking problems.
Rather, the problem generally involves a submissive dog and a
permissive owner. In these cases, early episodes of licking are
permitted (some people feel genuinely flattered when their dog licks
them) and the dog appears to enjoy the owner’s response.
In many cases, licking is a factor in another type of problem
behaviour. These usually involve the dog’s use of licking to dominate
the owner’s attentions or to demonstrate its dominant feelings relative
to the owner.
How Can Licking Be Prevented?
Licking is a problem only when the owner is present. Therefore
licking is usually easily stopped merely by telling the dog not to do it
or by moving away and avoiding it. After a few days or weeks of this
rejection, the problem disappears. However, this procedure does not
correct the basis of the problem, that is, attempts to dominate the
owner.
In addition to discouraging licking, the dog must be taught to
respond to commands, and owner adjustments made if the dog is “coddled”
or otherwise doted on. When it seeks petting or tries to dominate the
owner, it should be given a simple command, such as Sit, and then petted
briefly as a reward for obedience.
It is recommended that you use some intervening stimulus when the dog
begins to pester you. Whether this involves introduction of a chewable
toy that the pet is urged to fetch, or a sharp sound, the goal is to
divert the animal’s mind off licking and onto something else. During the
initial stages of correction, there may be seen many types of
substitutional behaviour, such as whining, pacing or self-licking. If
ignored, this behaviour usually disappears in a few days.
Ever wondered how septic is a dog’s mouth might be?
Since bacteria do not break through the body’s protective barrier,
namely the skin, we needn’t worry about having a dog lick us and our
subsequently contracting a disease. However, from the point of
aesthetics, dogs do sniff every conceivable pile or puddle of excrement
deposited in the streets by other dogs, so many people may deem it
ill-advised to allow a dog to lick them on the mouth. This choice is
entirely personal. The people who sleep with their dogs usually allow
all manner of familiarity, including kissing.
Have you ever found
yourself tirelessly looking through info on a website trying to find
what your looking for? Perhaps you want more information than what
is given, or need some advice because we offer too much choice? Maybe you just want an advisor to recommend the best matching product for you
and your dog?
Well great news! Apart from picking up the phone to
call our friendly Scruff sales staff, you now also have the easy and
convenient choice of chatting to one of our advisor online on our
Scruff MacDuff website. This way you don't have to pick up the phone
nor pay for the phone call! Chat now on the “Chat now” box on
the bottom right corner of Scruff MacDuff's website. If we unfortunately don't have an advisor online at the time of your enquiry, leave us a message and we'll get back to you ASAP! Simple! Try it now.
