Tag: dogs

Dogs Trust: Think outside the delivery box!

Eight ways to entertain your dog with a cardboard box and toilet roll tubes!

With the nation’s dog owners mostly spending National Pet Month (April 1st – May 10th) indoors, Dogs Trust is issuing some top tips on how dog owners can keep their dogs happy – all with simple household items – a cardboard box and toilet roll tubes!

Jenna Kiddie Head of Canine Behaviour at Dogs Trust, said: “We understand that owners may be looking for ways to keep their dogs occupied, especially when the current advice is to go outside just once a day for exercise with your four-legged friend.

“Whilst physical exercise is important for your dog, mental stimulation is also essential to help keep them happy. You can make it fun for them, and because they’re using their brains, it’s just as tiring as physical exercise.

“It’s really easy for you keep your dog’s brain busy from the comfort of your own home using simple household items. From activities involving their favourite treats, to games using things you may have left over from online deliveries, there are many ways you can keep your dog active, without stepping outside your front door.”

Dogs Trust has come up with eight fun ways to entertain your dog with a cardboard box and tubes whilst you’re staying indoors, and asking people to share their pictures and videos using the hashtag #MyDogIsForLife and tagging @DogsTrust on Twitter and Instagram.

Tutorial videos for the eight games will be released during National Pet Month on the charity’s social media pages.

  1. The paw-fect figure 8 – Get two boxes and set them out a little distance apart. Hold your dog’s treats or a favourite toy in one hand and slowly start to move them in a figure of eight around the two items, swapping the reward into your other hand at the centre point. One arm will guide your dog around the item to the left and the other arm will guide your dog around the item to your right. Repeat several times until you’ve got the movement smooth and well-rehearsed!
  2. Digging deep: Shred or scrunch up newspaper or any paper items and pop them in an empty box. Drop in some treats or toys, and watch your dog dig away!
  3. Paws-up: Can you get them to put their front feet on the box? Their back feet? Can you get them to run round to the left, to the right? Can smaller dogs sit in the box? Think outside of the box and we’re sure you won’t be able to contain yourself with all this fun!
  4. Bowling balls: Create a 10-pin bowling alley with spare kitchen roll tubes. Have a competition and see how many pins you can knock down vs. your dog!
  5. Tunn-els of fun: Cut the sides of a few boxes and line them up to make your very own DIY tunnel. Encourage your dog to go through with the promise of treats or their favourite toy at the end of the tunnel!
  6. Jog your dog’s memory: Lay out multiple boxes in a semi-circle and pop a treat in one of them, making sure your dog is watching. Hold up a sheet to block your furry friend’s vision, drop and then see if they remember which box the treat was in! Repeat the game and change the box with the treat in, see how many times they get it right!
  7. Snoot challenge: next level – remember the original snoot challenge where you had to make a circular shape with your hands and wait for your pooch to run up and put their nose through the hole? Building from this, cut a hole out in your box and see if you can get your dog to poke their nose through it! *boop*
  8. Teach your dog to read – for starters write different words (e.g. sit, down, paw) on different boxes that you want your dog to learn. Say the word that’s on the specific box in front of them, and ask them to do what the word says. When your dog does as you’ve asked, reward them with a tasty treat and repeat several times until your dog has associated the new word, with the specific box!

Images and videos shared with Dogs Trust will appear on the My Dog Is For Life webpage feed for others to see and take inspiration from. www.dogstrust.org.uk/mydogisforlife  

For more information, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

Labradors take the lead as UK’s most popular dog breed

Protectivity research has revealed which dog breeds have seen the biggest rise and fall in registration numbers over the last two decades.

  • The Labrador takes the crown of the most popular dog breed with 35,347 registrations in newly released Kennel Club Club data, overtaking the French Bulldog.

  • When looking at breed types, utility breeds have seen the biggest increase in registrations, with a 163% rise since 1990. 

  • The Dogue de Bordeaux is revealed to have had the largest increase in registrations, with a 22,217% rise, from just 6 registrations in 1990 to 1,339 in 2019.

  • Surprisingly, the Yorkshire Terrier has experienced the greatest fall in registration numbers with just 644 registrations in 2019 compared to a huge 24,015 in 1990, as owners are favouring continental breeds over the classic British breeds.

Pet business insurance provider Protectivity has analysed data from The Kennel Club to reveal which dog breeds are the most popular and which have seen the biggest rise and fall in registration numbers in the UK between 1990 and 2019. You can view the piece here.

As a nation of animal lovers, dogs are one of our most popular pets, and with over a quarter of adults owning one, we all have our own favourite breeds. Traditionally, we’ve seen Spaniels, Labradors and Terriers among the more commonly owned breeds, but in recent years we’ve also seen ‘designer’ dog breeds become much more popular, with these posh pups costing over £1000 to buy in some cases.

French Bulldogs lose their spot as the top dog

Looking at the number of registrations in the UK in 2019, the Labrador Retriever comes in as the top breed with 35,347 registrations, overtaking last year’s top breed the French Bulldog, which has had 33,661 registrations. The “Frenchie”, as it’s more affectionately known, has risen to popularity after becoming the breed of choice for celebrities such as the Beckhams, Lady Gaga and Holly Willoughby, amongst others. However, the spike in French Bulldog purchases has also caused the RSPCA to see a 236% increase in the number of this breed entering their care over the last seven years.

The top ten sees our old favourite breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever and Dachshund, but also includes a more surprising entry in the form of the Miniature Schnauzer. Ranked as one of the most ‘average’ dogs by the Royal Veterinary College, the lack of breed-related problems and tolerant nature make the Miniature Schnauzer a good option for any aspiring dog owners, with their smart mustachioed appearance also winning the hearts of many.

The top five most popular dog breeds are:

Rank

Breed

Registrations in 2019

1

Retriever (Labrador)

35,347

2

French Bulldog

33,661

3

Spaniel (Cocker)

21,663

4

Bulldog

9,922

5

Spaniel (English Springer)

8,638

Which breeds have seen the biggest rise and fall in registrations?

The nation’s trendiest dog since 1990 goes to the Dogue de Bordeaux. With a huge 22,217% increase in registrations, the breed has seen a massive surge in popularity, even placing above the French Bulldog which comes in second with a 13,639% increase.

Despite having a long history of working roles including as a guard dog, these gentle giants make a brilliant dog to have around children, with their calm and affectionate nature making them a loyal family member.

However, it’s the biggest fallers that might be more surprising, with the Yorkshire Terrier having seen a 97% decrease in registrations. The number of registrations of the breed have been steadily declining year on year, highlighting how fewer litters are being produced.

This decline may also in part be as a result of the overall increase in registrations for popular European breeds such as the French Bulldog, causing a saturation of more small breeds in the market.

The five breeds with the greatest increase in registrations are:

Rank

Breed

Difference in registrations from 1990 to 2019 (%)

1

Dogue de Bordeaux

22,217%

2

French Bulldog

13,639%

3

Bracco Italiano

5,850%

4

Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)

2,183%

5

Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)

2,125%

The five breeds with the greatest decrease in registrations are:

Rank

Breed

Difference in registrations from 1990 to 2019 (%)

1

Yorkshire Terrier

-97%

2

West Highland White Terrier

-92%

3

Pekingese

-91%

4

Polish Lowland Sheepdog

-88%

5

Cairn Terrier

-88%

Utility breeds see a surge in popularity

When looking at the wider breed types, the change in popularity of breeds can be seen further. With a 163% surge in popularity, Utility breeds have risen by quite some margin, while Pastoral, Toy and Terrier breeds have all experienced declines of over 50%.

Within the Pastoral breed group, over 80% of the breeds analysed have experienced a decline, including larger breeds such as the Old English Sheepdog, Bearded Collie and Shetland Sheepdog. T

his downward trend in larger breeds may also be reflective of the increase in people living in city centre locations, where the urban lifestyle is much more suited to smaller dogs.

Sean Walsh, Marketing Manager from Protectivity Insurance said: “Dogs are some of our most loved pets, as they become deeply embedded and irreplaceable members of the family. Each family or owner will have their own criteria when choosing a dog, in order to ensure that the needs of the breed are met with their lifestyle.

“As a result, it’s interesting to see how our modern lifestyles have created a shift in popularity towards smaller dog breeds, rather than the larger Retrievers and German Shepherds which were once much more popular”

Yappy Ever After!

FURRY-TAIL DAY FOR INSEPARABLE CANINES

A special ceremony took place on Sunday 23 February for two loved-up pups at a Wedding Showcase event in Edinburgh.

Dachshunds Nova and Ottis proved to be the paw-fect pair after winning a social media competition run by DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre to find an adorable four legged couple.

Since winning, the doggy duo have taken part in a puppy proposal photoshoot and enjoyed a specially catered dog-friendly afternoon tea when visiting the hotel to have the final touches for their big day put in place – arranged by the hotel’s wedding planner.

The public have been able to follow the journey of Nova and Ottis on social media with through the #skyBARKwedding hashtag.

On Sunday Nova and Ottis celebrated their love at SKYbar against the picturesque backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and the cityscape.

Among the wedding witnesses were representatives from a national Dachshund owners’ group and newly engaged couples who were touring the hotel and SKYbar as a prospective venue for their own special day.

Marcello Ventisei, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre, said: “Couples are spoiled for choice with wedding venues, so we wanted to showcase a unique take on the full journey from proposal to vows at DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre with adorable canines.

“We’ve loved this journey with Nova and Ottis and we hope our guests enjoyed being part of this picture-perfect day too.”

Pups all set to say ‘I do’!

The countdown is on for a special ceremony for two pups at a city centre hotel – and the canine couple recently visited the hotel to discuss the final touches of their big day.

Dachshunds Nova and Ottis won a social media competition to be models at a Wedding Showcase event this month at the SKYbar at DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre.

The winning couple have been given the full wedding treatment as the hotel team have helped to plan their furry-tail day. Both pups enjoyed a specially catered dog-friendly afternoon tea menu tasting and finalised details during a meeting with Euan, the hotel wedding planner.

Nova and Ottis are due to celebrate their love at SKYbar against the picturesque backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and the cityscape on Sunday 23rd February 2020 at the showcase event. Many newly engaged couples will be witnesses as they tour the hotel and SKYbar as a prospective venue for their own special day.

Marcello Ventisei, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre, said: “Our Wedding Showcase event is a great way for couples and families to view the venue in various setups and discuss plans with our experienced team.

“We’ve loved this journey with Nova and Ottis and we can’t wait to see the response from our guests attending the event later this month.”

You can follow the journey of Nova and Ottis on social media with #skyBARKwedding.

www.rbhmanagement.com

Puppy love: canine proposal in the capital

Dachshund duo Nova and Ottis proved to be the paw-fect pair of inseparable canines as they take part in a Christmas Day proposal photoshoot at DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre.

The loved-up pups were voted as the winning fur-ever friends from a competition on the hotel’s Facebook page. The four-legged fiancées will be part of a special ceremony at SKYbar in Edinburgh on Sunday 23rd February 2020 at its annual Wedding Showcase event.

Winning couple Nova and Ottis will be given the full wedding treatment and the hotel will help plan their furry-tail ending.

You can follow the journey of Nova and Ottis on social media with #skyBARKwedding.

For more details of SKYbar Wedding Showcase please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/skybar-wedding-showcase-featuring-the-wedding-guru-and-skybarkwedding-tickets-86507366863

A guide to enjoying The Festival of Winter Walks with your dog

While walking is a hugely popular pastime for many people, Christmas and the festivities surrounding it can sometimes leave us all feeling a little exhausted and stressed out. This can be the best reason to get outside on a walk and enjoy the fresh, winter air. Continue reading A guide to enjoying The Festival of Winter Walks with your dog

SKYbar: Paw you need is love!

A city centre hotel has issued a call-out for the paw-fect pair of inseparable canines for a wedding photoshoot like no other.

The SKYbar at DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre will host a special ceremony for the two pups on Sunday 23rd February 2020 at its annual Wedding Showcase event – but first the search is on for the canine couple. Continue reading SKYbar: Paw you need is love!

Protect your pooch this fireworks season

With fireworks season upon us and Bonfire Night displays about to take place all over the country, most of us will be getting ready to enjoy the festivities. For dogs, however, Bonfire Night and firework celebrations can be some of the most stressful and terrifying times.

And with Sainsbury’s becoming the first major supermarket to stop selling fireworks across all its stores in the UK, the discussion on whether fireworks should be further regulated has never been more topical.

Lintbells, the pet supplement manufacturers, have thought of a few ways dog owners can help look after their four-legged friends this fireworks seasons, with the help of a 2018 survey they conducted with 2,000 dog owners, that revealed, more than 70% of those surveyed claim the firework season has a negative impact on their families – including their dogs.

House prep

There are some simple things you can do in your house that will help make your dog feel more comfortable while there are fireworks going off. Creating a safe place inside your home can be an ideal place for your dog to hide from fireworks. Almost 50% of dog owners build a safe haven for their dog to escape to during fireworks – using blankets and pillows can be a great way to create a den. Over 75% even choose to close the curtains, windows and doors to further shelter their pet from the loud noises and bright flashes of lights.

Sound

The sudden bang of fireworks can be extremely terrifying for your dog, so playing other sounds can be a great way to mask the noise of the bangs. Nearly 80% of dog owners turn on the TV or radio to help drown out the sounds of the fireworks, which will help distract your dog from the noise outside.

Walking

When walking your dog during fireworks season, perhaps consider walking them earlier in the day. Walking before dusk is ideal to make sure your dog is comfortable when going outside. Try to tire your dog out earlier on in the day, so they’ll be more likely to fall asleep before fireworks are set off. Regardless of the time you’re out walking, make sure you walk your dog on a load and they are microchipped.

Consider an alternative

If you have tried everything you can to help your cope with fireworks and they are still stressed, then it may be time to reach out to your vet for advice in the first instance, as they will be able to provide the best course of action.

Lintbells range of natural calming supplements, YuCALM, are a great way to help combat your dogs stress and anxiety. By supporting natural calming pathways in the brain, YuCALM is an effective way to help reduce stress and support your dog to become happier and more playful once again.

Giving your dog YuCALM in the build up to Bonfire Night and fireworks season, will help to support calm behaviour and ease any anxiety in time for the fireworks going off. Nearly 25% of those surveyed even tried giving their dog a natural supplement to help soothe their pets stress and anxiety.

Gemma Cunningham, Campaign and Communications Manager at Lintbells, said: “Many dog owners are calling for a change around firework laws, with over 60% calling for an outright ban on unlicensed fireworks, according to the study we conducted, with 96% believing that the laws around fireworks should be changed.

“In addition to the recent announcement from supermarket Sainsbury’s and its plans to stop selling fireworks in all of its stores, the results of the study have raised further questions on whether fireworks should be further legislated, to protect not only dogs, but other animals too.”