Tag: Bella & Duke

Safety hazards to avoid for pets this New Year’s Eve

Expert shares top dangers that could ruin your pet’s perfect new year

New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration with friends and family, the last thing you want to stop the festivities is an unnecessary trip to the vets.

It is up to us to do right by our pets and limit any stressful or hazardous situations by taking the necessary precautions to make this New Year’s Eve memorable for all the right reasons. 

To ensure the new year starts off on the right foot, the UK’s leading raw pet food and wellness company, Bella & Duke has shared easy to follow tips to keep your pet safe from any stress or potentially toxic foods.

  1. Plan ahead – Knowing that fireworks will be going off, it’s important to adjust your pet’s schedule around this. If you’re used to a night-time walk, gradually take your dog out for their daily exercise earlier in the day so you don’t get caught in the middle of a firework show or display. Take extra time to plan out your decorations for the house, long streaming banners, tinsel and balloons can all be choking hazards, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and keep decorations out of reach.
  1. Fireworks – Over the festive period we know there will be an increase in fireworks being set off. While there may be some dogs that aren’t too bothered by them, each year fireworks traumatise pets across the country.  The best way to limit the stress caused by the loud bangs and flashes is playing calming sounds, reggae or classical music have proven to be most effective. 
  1. Toxic treats – Your dog doesn’t know what it can and can’t eat, if they see food lying in reach, they’ll take it. Chocolates, sweets, alcohol and some cheeses can lead to digestion problems and in more severe cases with alcohol it can cause poisoning. Be cautious of what foods are lying around, we know it’s hard to keep track of this during the commotion of a party so play it on the safe side and keep your pets entertained with a variety of species-appropriate treats they can have all for themselves.
  1. Create a safe haven – The hustle and bustle of a New Year’s Eve party can be a lot for our furry friends to take in. What was once their relaxing home is now loud and filled with strangers. Even if your dog loves being the centre of attention and socialising with new people, set up a quiet corner of the house with some of their favourite toys, chews, treats and comforts.  
  1. Cool, calm and collected – After building your safe haven for your furry friend, take the extra step to make it a true place of relaxation. Consider adding an old jumper that smells of you, and additionally add a few sprays of Bella & Duke’s calm and balmy spray. The comforting scents of lavender, valerian and passionflower will help soothe your dog when fireworks and the parties are kicking off. Another great way to keep your pet preoccupied is to give them a large chew to focus on instead of the fireworks. But the best way to keep your canine companion calm is to be calm yourself! Your pets feed off your energy, be the pillar they need, reinforcing that everything is going to be okay.

Mark Scott, CEO at Bella & Duke, added: “Take the time as a pet owner to make up a safe haven for your furry friend, a quiet corner of the house to have some time to themselves. Don’t feel the need to ditch decorations completely but make sure there aren’t any choking hazards in reach.

“Finally, be there for your dog, if they start showing signs of stress take them away from the stressor and sit with each other. Remain calm and your pet will reflect your energy.”

Leading Pet Behaviourist shares top tips to safely socialise dogs

Expert shares her top tips to break the stigma around scary dogs

Often bigger breeds of dogs are unfairly stigmatised by the public and seen as scary or frightening, when this very much isn’t the case.

No dog is born bad and as pet parents, we should all be looking to do right by our pets and raise them in a way to show the friendly and compassionate side that man’s best friend is known for.

Leading pet food and wellbeing company Bella & Duke know what it means to be misunderstood. In an attempt to challenge long held misconceptions about the raw pet food, the company set out to see what other misconceptions the UK hold about man’s best friend. The UK wide research revealed that the UK perceived the following as the top five scariest dog breeds:

  • Pitbull Terrier – 48%
  • Rottweiler – 43%
  • Mastiff – 22%
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier – 22%
  • Doberman -19%

Bella & Duke’s Pet Behaviourist, Liz Lannie, lists her top five tips to not only make sure your canine companion can be comfortable meeting new people, but also put others at ease and dispel their own misconceptions:

  1. Understand your dog – Dogs don’t have a universal language, they all communicate with us in different ways. For example, Rottweilers are known for their perceived scary growl, but this comes from a place of excitement, for many this can add to the misconceptions of them being a ‘scary’ dog so it’s important as a pet parent to let people know there’s nothing to worry about.
  2. Teach them early – The best way to make sure your furry friend feels comfortable around others is to ease them into it as early as possible. From the puppy phase, meet up with a friend that you know has a trained dog in a calm open area and let them have time to meet new people and experience new things.
  3. Reward good behaviour – When you’re building up their courage to meet new people and fellow dogs, reward them when they show good, calm behaviour. When you feel you’re both ready, allow a close friend they feel comfortable around to offer them treats to build another level of trust.
  1. Distance them from stress – As many will understand, getting comfortable with new environments can be a lot to take in. If you see signs of stress that can include: ears being tucked back, excessive drooling & panting, shaking and whining. If you notice these signs, just take them away for a few minutes, take a moment to gather yourselves and try to ease them back into the situation.
  1. Patience is key! – You’re not going to see an overnight change in your dog’s behaviour, these things take time and consistency. Taking your dog out to a new area or to meet a friend is the easy part, keeping this consistency is where the real challenge comes in! Take your time and keep trying, after time you’ll see progress and ultimately build healthy and happy relationships with new friends for your dog.
Bella & Duke, Rosyth, May 2023. Michelle Kellichan from Dunfermline with Staffy Hank (age 4). For more information please contact Muckle Media, BellaDuke@mucklemedia.co.uk . Pic free for first use relating to Bella & Duke. © Malcolm Cochrane Photography +44 (0)7971 835 065 mail@malcolmcochrane.co.uk No syndication No reproduction without permission

Liz Lannie, Pet Behaviourist at Bella & Duke, added: “We really believe that no dog deserves to be labelled as scary or frightening.

“It’s our responsibility to do right by our pets and create an environment where they can live a life well loved, full of friends and adventures. We know ourselves, change won’t come overnight.

“Take the time each day to implement some type of training whether it’s switching up your usual walking route or meeting a friend for a puppy play date, slowly but surely if you’re consistent you will see changes.”

To find out more about how to train your pets visit: https://www.bellaandduke.com

Show your dog some love this Valentine’s Day

Canine Behaviourist shares her top ways both you and your dog can show some love in time for Valentine’s Day.

Love is a four-legged word, and we all know that life is a little easier with a furry friend by your side. People often think our dogs can’t communicate with us, but actually they speak to us with what they do – their body language and behaviours.

If we can learn to recognise these behaviours, we can improve our relationship and build a stronger bond that lets them live the healthy, happy lives they deserve.

Bella & Duke’s Natural Canine Behaviourist, Caroline Spencer Dip.AdvCanBhv, shares her top tips for understanding your dog’s behaviour and how you can show them some love this valentine’s day.

  1. Eye contact & facial expression

The signs your dog loves you come from their whole body. Dogs watch us, they look deep into our eyes and study our facial expressions. Our own dogs will look into our eyes with a soft gaze of pure adoration. If you’re looking at displays of affection from your dog, you are looking for a super-soft, gentle blinking gaze and relaxed body. 

  1. Snuggling up and sleeping next to you

Dogs snuggle up to each other like any other family animal for warmth, comfort, and security. A cuddle shows they would rather be snuggled with you than anywhere else. A true trusting love cuddle is one where your dog sleeps soundly and remains super relaxed, whatever goes on around them. They trust you as much as love you, meaning They can deal with the comings, goings and noises of daily life.

  1. Waggy tail with relaxed body

Body language should always be taken as a whole, as opposed to isolated elements. If your dog displays a relaxed body with a lovely swish of their tail when in your company, it’s a sign that they are happy and relaxed.

  1. Yawning in sync with you

Many studies have been done to explain and understand yawning in dogs and humans. Often, when we yawn, others yawn around us, and so do our dogs. This can mean they want to show their connection and empathy towards us.

  1. A happy greeting at the door

Coming home from a day of work to be greeted by a happy dog can easily cure a stressful day. When you are greeted by a playful pooch it’s for a reason, they’re genuinely happy to see you and this can be a great opportunity to initiate play time, make use of their excitable energy and build a stronger bond with one another. Be sure to make the most of these times, play some games or step out for some fresh air, stretch the legs and play a game of fetch.

As well as understanding your furry friend and the ways they show us love, Caroline also shares her five key ways that you can show your love to your four legged friend this Valentine’s Day and beyond:

  1. Patience and respect are key – When we relax and simply help our dogs to make better choices, they will fit in with ease. Dogs can pick up on when we feel anxious or tense and tend to mirror these emotions. Embrace your dog for who they are, their personality and character will shine through. Guide them, but don’t force them, to fit into our sometimes-confusing world. Boundaries, personal space, and safety are paramount and always work both ways. Treat them with trust, love and respect and they will treat you the same way.
  1. Make them the centre of your world – Spending quality time with your dog is one of the best way to show your furry friend that you love them. Dogs are social animals, they need company. Although every dog is different, we don’t recommend leaving them alone for more than four hours per day as this can be detrimental for their mental health. Enjoying a cosy cuddle together, playing games they enjoy, or simply enjoying each other’s company are easy ways to make your furry friend feel great!
  1. Surprise them with treats – Everyone deserves tasty treats, it’s a great idea to use natural treats to reward your dog and reinforce a positive connection between you both. Natural treats allow you to treat your dog without feeling guilty, and they can be a great tool for training, enrichment or simply a surprise. Just make sure not to use this as the only tool to gain a connection at the expense of not forming a proper bond.
  1. Make them feel safe – Your dog is part of the family, and like children, they look to you for guidance and protection. As pet parents it is important to eliminate as much fear, stress and anxiety we can for our furry friends. You are their guardian, mentor, and trusted companion. Gaining your dog’s trust by making them feel safe will earn you a friend for life.
  1. Ensure their life is full of enrichment – Allowing your dog to try different fun activities, such as nose games/brain games and sniffy walks with you will make them happier. Ensure your switching up from the expected every now and again to give them some variety. Visiting different environments together such as the beach or the forest can help grow the bond between you. You know your dog best, so work together, experiment and find ways to enrich their life that suit you both to make sure you are living a life well loved.

Caroline Spencer, Natural Canine Behaviourist at Bella & Duke, added: “Living together and forming a relationship with your dog takes time. Highs and lows through puppyhood, adolescence to adulthood are natural as they learn how to fit in, and we learn what they mean by what they do.

“There is no rush to make the grade, any grade. Just do right by them the best you can, and enjoy one another’s company naturally.”