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."
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.
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!
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
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.
Planning on taking those walks through the park, woods, forests or nature reserves this summer? Fear the mosquitos? Introducing the Insect Shield Bandana -
It repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges (no-see-ems).
Insect Shield protects against a variety of insects that can carry
dangerous diseases. This EPA registered technology is long-lasting,
effective, and convenient.
Insect Shield uses a man-made version of a natural repellent found in certain types of chrysanthemum flowers.
Lasts through 70 launderings, which is more than the typical life of a garment.
TreT is Scruff's Parkour dog friend from Ukraine. TreT has great agile skills, and your able to watch him tackling different obstacles in a series of TreT videos which can be found on Scruff MacDuff's Youtube channel!
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 Manchester!
Meet Kate…
I’m on a mission to find the best Dog Friendly accommodation in Great Britain.
So far my travels have taken me to Brighton and Essex. The next stop
is Manchester. I love this city, for many reasons. It has great
restaurants, wonderful night life, but most of all the people are
lovely. The journey with my boyfriend and two beloved pet pooches,
Baxter and Kevin began in Birmingham.
We had a stress-free 90 minute journey and arrived in Manchester
around 2pm on Saturday afternoon. We decided to head straight to
Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, a suburban area of Manchester before heading onto The Malmaison Hotel where we were to enjoy our pet friendly stay.
Chorlton is about 4 miles from the city centre and takes around 11
minutes by car to get to from Manchester Piccadilly Train Station. After
spending 4 hours there I’m completely in love with Chorlton.
We ate in The Horse & Jockey Inn,
a dog-friendly pub that serves the most delicious roast pork, stuffing
and apple sauce baked french bread with home-made french fries! I wanted
another… The pub staff welcomed Baxter and Kevin with open arms, gave
the doggies lots of fuss, and treats! They even served ‘Dog Beer’ behind
the bar which I found hilarious. The dogs drank all of it! We then went
for a walk in the meadows where we met my friend Amy and the dog she
rescued 4 months ago.
His name is Lebowski. Baxter, Kevin and Bowski ran and played for a
good hour on the meadows then Amy walked us all to a new Pet Boutique
that had opened not far from The Horse & Jockey Inn. The boutique
was called Betty & Butch and opened in November 2011. It was
fabulous. I bought Kevin a new really good quality coat for just £14.99,
he looked so smart when I tried it on him. After shopping for dog
coats, sprays and treats we walked to The Parlour, another dog-friendly
pub. It was gorgeous inside. Apparently they serve award-winning Sunday
Lunches but unfortunately we couldn’t go back on the Sunday as we had to
get back to Birmingham. We enjoyed a nice glass of wine and met lots of
people in the pub with their dogs too.
We arrived at The Malmaison Hotel, about 6:30pm and for those who
have never been, I can only describe it as a luxury boutique gem! The
moment we arrived, the staff were happy and helpful. In our room, we had
a living area section, as well as the bedroom area and a gorgeous
modern bathroom. Out in the living area, next to the L-Shaped Sofa, were
two doggy beds, bowls and treats for Baxter and Kevin. We dined
downstairs around 8pm in the ‘Smoak Bar & Grill’ which is the hotels superb restaurant. The service was 10 out of 10.
The staff were extremely well mannered and well informed. The food
was better than some five star restaurants I’ve eaten in. We had a
really enjoyable meal, the restaurant was very busy with a really cool
vibe and situated next to it was a bar with people enjoying drinks
before and after their meals. We headed straight to bed after dinner and
had the most amazing night sleep. The bed was HUGE and really
comfortable. Having black-out curtains meant we slept for almost 9 hours
(a long time for Adam my boyfriend and I).
The next morning we were up, showered and out of the hotel by 11am,
not before a delicious and mouth-watering breakfast though. A wide range
of choices at Breakfast is what makes a hotel stay super enjoyable for
me and The Malmaison makes sure that every area is covered. If you’re
trying to be healthy, you’ve fresh fruits, yoghurts, cereals and juices
to choose from. For those who like to indulge on carbs (like myself)
there are croissants, muffins and danish pastries aplenty! I chose
Porridge from the menu with honey and I ate every mouthful. We shared a
croissant, a blueberry muffin and Adam my partner had an omelette too.
Inevitably we both got food envy when the couple next to us were handed a
full english breakfast and eggs benedict! I know for next time to order
something a little more hearty.
Everything about The Malmaison I love and so I’d give it a 9 out of
10. The only reason I didn’t give it 10 out of 10 is because we were put
on the 3rd floor, and whenever we wanted to take Baxter and Kevin out
for ‘pee pees & poo poo’s’ we had to go down in a lift and then once
we were outside, it was city centre as you would imagine i.e. concrete
pavements and roads, traffic and lack of parks. Having nowhere to let
the boys off their leads or go do their business (Baxter will only go on
grass!) was a bit of a hindrance. Maybe if the Malmaison had a small
patio or garden area within the hotel grounds it would have been nice
for the doggies to go out and have a sniff, a wee, and a walk around
with the leads on.
Other than that our stay was wonderful and the doggies had an amazing
time too. I was shocked to discover that a city centre boutique hotel
like The Malmaison was pet friendly. I doubt a lot of people knew this
either but if you’re planning on going to Manchester and you can’t bare
to be apart from your four legged friend, then head to The Malmaison and
they can enjoy the trip too!
This lightweight, and long term durable bag is ideal for all types of adventures from the easy - hill walking, to the extreme, mountain climbing. The Palisades rucksack comprises of weight conscious saddlebags, which can be detached, and a Web Master Harness underneath. Handy if you have to cross high waters, or are making pit stops!
The rucksack is trimmed with reflective lining; there is a aluminium V- ring to allow you to attach a lead and/or light beacon; the saddlebags each contain a collapsible 1L bottle; the harness comes with an assistance handle allowing you to life your dog over obstacles, and there are five-point adjustable straps to ensure both comfort and security of the bags.
The bag comes in red currant and is available in 3 sizes - small, medium and large.
Finding it hard to spot your dog during those trips, or even evening walks? Want to make sure others, especially drivers can spot your Scruff during those dark nights?
This light beacon uses four LEDs to create a high visibility red light around the dog as it emits light in four directions. Sturdy, compact, watertight, lightweight and easily clipped onto the dog jacket, dog pack or collar, get yours now!
A very warm (or cold as the temperature dedicates) Scruff welcome
to 2012!
Scruff MacDuff is happy
to announce that this year he's planning for bigger and more things.
Let us first proudly annouce that Scruff MacDuff is a recommended
dog wear retailer 2012 byCompareTheDogWear.co.uk
and a certified retailer by the Pet Care Trade Association.
Apart from our old but
cherished sponsoring of Charities such as the Dogs Trust and VeteransCharity, Scruff has also made a new friend with AMCUK
Alaskan Malamute Rescue, who are holding an event in March 2012
(more details to follow).
Late 2011 we introduced
Deals of the Week in our Scruff MacDuff store, and with such success & interest Deals of theWeek will now become part of our permanent offers. We are also
planning a competition zone where products and money off vouchers can
be won. Keep an eye on Scruff MacDuff's blog site for more
information. Throughout the months Scruff will also be throwing out
money off and discount vouchers on random days on his twitter and
facebook sites so if you haven't join, follow Scruff now to take
advantage of him!
That's all for now.
Hope everyone is having a great start to 2012, and remember, it's not
too late to grab a winter jacket for your best friend!
Experts say studies show dog
owners walk more, walk faster, and are more likely to enjoy an active
lifestyle because of their companion animal.
"I'm
fascinated by what a great motivator dogs can be," said Dr. Sandra
McCune, co-editor of the book, "The Health Benefits of Dog Walking for
People and Pets."
McCune, an animal
behaviorist based in Leicestershire, England, said studies show if
you're a dog walker, you're more likely to meet the guidelines for daily
activities.
Dogs are the reason
behind two-thirds, 66 percent, of the walks their owners take each week,
according to a recent survey of more than 1,011 adults commissioned by
pet food company Mars Petcare.
Brian Stanford walks with his dog on the beach in
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi,
September 3, 2011.
Credit: Reuters/Dan Anderson
One-quarter of people with children and pets regularly visit parks and other outdoor spaces because of their dog.
"Personally, I have a Labrador," McCune said. "When it's dark, when it's raining, the dog needs a walk, every day."
She said dog walking also strengthens social and communal ties.
"If people go out with a dog, they're more likely to have a conversation," she explained.
According to the poll some 44 percent of dog owners aged 65 and older exercise on a weekly basis because of their dog.
"Dogs
are strong drivers of social capital," said McCune, explaining that
social capital is a sociological term which she defined as the value of
all relationships.
"Dog ownership benefits the entire community," she said.
This
fall YMCAs in several U.S. cities are hosting their version of dog
days. Called the Power of Pets, the programs include dog run/walks, dog
yoga and other dog fair activities.
"It's
a chance to get the community together," Katy Leclair, executive
director of the Lake View, Illinois YMCA said of the program. "Families
with dogs tend to be more active."
As
workout partners, canines can offer energy, enthusiasm, and the social
support so crucial to sticking with an exercise program, according to
Shirley Archer, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.
"Dogs
can provide that companionship," said Archer, a Florida-based fitness
instructor. "Frisbee tossing, ball throwing, agility competitions, dog
and human boot camps, are great opportunities to be active," she said.
"But obedience training is a must."
She cautions that as living creatures dogs need to be taken care of.
"If
they ride with you on a bicycle, they need to be trained to stay
close," she said. "Keep them hydrated. Check their paws. Don't let them
run right after they eat."
Laura
Cartwright Hardy, a grandmother and full-time graduate student living in
Little Rock, Arkansas, has two huge German Shepherds.
"I've
had big dogs since I was 20 and that's definitely been part of the
reason I've always been fit," said Hardy, who started lifting weights in
her 30s so she could carry 40-pound (18.14-kg) bags of dog food with
ease.
"They certainly keep you honest about walking," she said. "Those big brown eyes make it impossible to say no."
She added that every human walking partner she has had, except her sister and her husband, quit because she went too fast.
"My dogs (all girls) have been steadfast," she said.
Is your beloved dog prone to these hazards? Have any stories which you would like to share with Scruff and his friends, write to Scruff at social@scruffmacduff.co.uk
Winter,
winter is upon us! As you get ready with the snow shovels, deicers
and even bags of salt, don’t forget to get your beloved dog his
boots and jackets so he too can storm the winter blues.
The Quinzee is a sleeveless puffer
jacket, for the trendy and warm dog! Made with thermal insulation,
abrasion free outer shell with a reflective trim, this jacket is all
you need for those in town excursions, walks through the snow, and
even to wear in the cold home as the heating fires up. Suited for
wear during the SEVERE COLD weather, the Quinzee also comes with an
integrated stow sack allowing you to conveniently stow away the
jacket neatly and easily.
The Cloud Chaser jacket is the ultimate
full body armour for your dog. With fleece insulation, and a three
layered weatherproof upper and stretch belly panel, the Cloud Chaser
will shield your dog against wind, snow, rain and water. Suited for
wear during SEVER, CHANGING WEATHER, the Cloud Chaser is the daddy of
all jackets. Suitable for wear snow activities including skiing,
snowboarding, dog sledding, and even runs through the severe cold and
snowy weather.
Skyliner,
the lightweight and pliable boot, is suited for walking on pavements
outdoors, and great indoors with its non marking sole. Made with a
water resistant upper, the Skyliner will help keep dirt, debris and
water out.
Grip Trek,
the high traction rugged lug (sole grip) boot, is great for dogs
struggling to walk in uneven, rough and unstable e.g. slush or icy
conditions. The Grip Trek is made with breathable mesh upper
material for comfort and ventilation.
Polar Trek,
the ultimate insulated cold weather boot with extended gaiter, is
ideal for ice and snow. With non Velcro straps to help keep the boot
on, a weatherproof insulated upper to help keep the paws warm and
dry, and a vibram ice specific sole to provide great traction on snow
and ice, the Polar Trek is a must have for your dog this winter!
Scruff MacDuff
recommend the Cloud Chaser jacket and Polar Trek boots this Christmas
to not only help keep your dog nice and warm, but to also allow
him/her the freedom to run in the snow without risk of catching a
cold.
Elvis + Costello are part of our Doggles toys. These Pentapull/Monsterpull toys have 5 arms (and squeekers) when folded out to allow for hours of tug of war fun for everyone! Made with Eco friendly recycled fabrics, these Doggles toys are tough!
It was a cold dark & eerie night pierced only by the howling winds outside, Scruff was unsettled...
[A NOISE!] He lifts his head from his chest & pokes his nose from out with his warm fleece blanket...
[Aaarrrggggghhhhhh......] It sounded like a low humming sound from the living room. Quiet follows & Scruff hides back into his warm bed.
[Aaarrg//] The noise suddenly stops, and the sound of [crumpling] follows. Slowly Scruff inches out from beneath his blanket... The wind was still howling. Shivering as his paw touches the laminate floors, he cautiously moves towards the sound; ears perked & fur standing on end.
"GREETINGS Scruff dog, I come in peace."
Elvis
[Thud!] Scruff had fainted. Before the fading black of unconsciousness Scruff had caught a glimpse of it... A squishy green alien being held out in front of him.
"Trick or treat!" Uncle Phyto had bought + scared Scruff with a new toy.
As Scruff regains his consciousness he chomps at the alien which is now lying next to him. Shaking it, the green eyed monster was thus named Elvis, "all shook up".
Do you like this story? Think you can do better, why not enter our Scruff Competition?
