Tuesday 20 November 2012

Bathtime?


This look familiar to anyone?

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!


Just click here to find out more.

Wednesday 12 September 2012

Frankie the Dog takes commuter train to London

Well, I'll be dog-gone! Frankie the Jack Russell leaves home and hops onto commuter train to London

"What we don’t understand is why Frankie chose rail. He’s never been on a train before"

 This is the moment a family dog escaped from his home and then hopped on to a commuter train to London - in the middle of the morning rush hour.

The image shows Jack Russell Frankie, six, darting through the legs of busy commuters before hopping onto a carriage at Gravesend Station, Kent.

 


The moment Frankie hops aboard Picture:SWNS

He carefull waits for all the other passengers to board the commuter service then launches himself from his hiding place on to the train.

Once on the train, he can then be seen scurrying up the aisle in search for a suitable seat before settling on one by a window.


Browse Mutt Gear Leads at Scruff MacDuff now!

 

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.


Browse Mutt Gear Leads at Scruff MacDuff now!

 

Jane added: "I was distraught that he went for free.

"What we don’t understand is why Frankie chose rail. He’s never been on a train before."

A statement from Southeastern spokesman: "We’re pleased we were able to help reunite Frankie and his owners."

Frankie was excused from paying the £17.80 usually needed to buy a ticket for the service.

 Article from Yahoo News  

Keep your dog safe and under control with Mutt Gear's reflective and padded handle leads!  

 

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Mutt Gear Lead Pink and Grey

  


 

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Stray dog pick-ups down by 23%

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."

Mutt Gear Lead - Pink and Grey
with reflective trim

Dogs Trust said around half of the dogs in its care were abandoned and left to fend for themselves.

The charity appealed to members of the public to consider giving an unwanted stray a "second chance".

Article from West Lothian Courier


Need a new dog lead?  Get one with a padded handle and reflective trim for those dark nights!




Tuesday 21 August 2012

1000 Greyhounds World Record Attempt - be apart of it!

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! 









Monday 13 August 2012

Top dogs! Andy Murray's proud pooches show off his Olympic gold and silver medals

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.


By Alex Horlock for the Daily Mail.  To read the full article click here

With the whole family getting into the Olympic spirit, has your pooch also caught the Olympic fever?

Check out Scruff's range of Wacky Walk'rs!

The Ergonomic Wacky Walk'r lead




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.






Saturday 11 August 2012

Cute Dog Sounds Incredibly Evil

Ruffwear travel dog bowl




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!!! 

Clix car safe harness

Monday 30 July 2012

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Bald puppy Splash needs a new home after heartless owner abandoned her in floods

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.”

Article from Yahoo

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Keep your puppy warm with his/her very own dog jacket, there's a style to fit all weathers.

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Scruff MacDuff – enjoying the summer sun!

Thursday 19 July 2012

Some of the UK's oddest laws - and why they are facing the chop

An enormous spring clean of some of Britain's many out-of-date laws is on its way.

Hundreds of pieces of legislation, some of them dating back centuries, have only a few months left to live.

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.

You can, if you wish, read the full report.
 

By Ian Jones for MSN News

Friday 13 July 2012

Service Dogs Help Carry The Olympic Torch and Spirit

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:

- Dogs for the Disabled
- Medical Detection Dogs

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.

Article from Fit As Fido Friends.

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Wednesday 4 July 2012

Barking mad! Woman gives up her high-powered job to design Olympic dog outfits

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!'
By Bianca London for the Daily Mail


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!

Scruff MacDuff Doggles

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Interview with Adele Silva

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.


Many Thanks Adele!

Adele Silva Speaking With Kim O’Meara
Article and photos by K9 Magazine - Full article available at K9 Magazine






The Origin of Dog Names


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

By K9 Magazine


 


Thursday 31 May 2012

Pet Friendly Devon with Kate Lawler

by

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.

All in all a magnificent weekend! 

See you next time…..



Saturday 19 May 2012

Greyhound Rescue Fife thanks Scruff MacDuff for the support





THANK YOU
 
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.

From all of us at GRF thank you.
Alex Morrison


Friday 18 May 2012

Funny dog vids


Agile and skillful Geronimo from Long Island, New York



A duck that thinks it's a dog and plays fetch


Sammy, a dog outdone by window blinds

Thursday 10 May 2012

A photographer, a ball, a pack of dogs and an underwater camera


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!!!



Tuesday 8 May 2012

Scottish SPCA finds home for 'saddest dog' Scooby

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."

Article and photo from BBC News.

Monday 7 May 2012

Dog office humour

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! 


Photos from Cheezburger.com

Monday 30 April 2012

1000 Greyhounds World Record Attempt - be apart of it!


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! 









Thursday 19 April 2012

New arrivals - Dog socks


Grip socks
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. 

Rubber sole Dog Socks

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.






Friday 13 April 2012

Why Do Dogs Lick People?

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.

Added by for mydogmagazine.com

Monday 9 April 2012

Scruff MacDuff online chat -


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.

Thursday 5 April 2012

Funny dog vids

The dog who thinks he's an elephant



Dog refuses to take a bath, watch as he plays dead, runs away and every other trick in the book!






Tuesday 3 April 2012

Dog Chocolate Consumption Warning

Dog chocolate consumption is never more likely than at Easter time. For those unaware (what happens if my dog eats chocolate?), one of the favourite human treats can actually kill a dog. Now a shocking new survey from a prominent animal welfare charity has revealed that over 57% of pet dogs have eaten chocolate intended for humans and over 1 in 10 have become ill from it. Of these, 8% have died due to the effects and nearly a quarter have required urgent veterinary treatment.
  To prevent the number of dogs that end up hopping to the vet with chocolate poisoning, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is today launching a new “Chocs Away!” awareness drive to highlight the tragic consequences of feeding your dog human chocolate this Easter.

Sadly many dog owners are simply unaware of the dangers. Over 39% of dogs who ate human chocolate were given the treat by their owners and 61% found it themselves after it was left in easy to find places in the home.

Dogs Trust Veterinary Director, Paula Boyden, comments:
 
“Apart from the risks of obesity and the obvious dangers of eating the foil wrapping, the biggest risk of eating human chocolate is poisoning, resulting in an emergency dash to the vet and sadly even death.
Chocolate contains theobromine, which, although tolerated by humans, is extremely toxic to man’s best friend. The darker the chocolate, the greater the amount of theobromine. Toxic doses vary according to the size of dog and cocoa solid content of the chocolate. As a rough guide, Dogs Trust estimates that 50g of plain chocolate could be enough to kill a small dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier*, while just 400g could be enough to kill an average size dog.”

So, if you are partial to Easter Eggs and want to keep your dog safe, follow these simple rules:

  •     Keep your “Chocs Away” – this means hidden out of sight and unavailable to your dog
  •     NEVER feed your dog chocolate intended for humans
  •     If your egg is missing and you suspect the dog is the culprit, contact your vet straight away
  •     Look out for any of the following symptoms; vomiting containing blood, a sore tummy, excessive     thirst, excitability, drooling, rapid heart rate.  and in severe cases, epileptic-type fits
  •     If your dog is displaying any of these signs then take him immediately to your vet 
  •     There is no antidote for theobromine poisoning with treatment being symptomatic. Therefore the sooner treatment is implemented, the greater the chance of recovery
  •     If you want to treat your dog this Easter stick to natural doggy snacks that are kinder to your canine
Article added by for mydogmagazine.com