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