Look after your dogs this winter! #TopTips

We are a dog mad family. We do however have more animals than just our dogs but lets focus on the pups for this article. We got our bouncy Springer Spaniel as a birthday present for me 4 years ago. She’s a crazy, wonderful, boisterous working springer and as such we have to make sure she gets enough exercise to stop her going crazy with boredom. Recently too my eldest and husband clubbed together as their birthday present and decided they wanted a dog too and along came our gorgeous totally mad golden retriever pup. Completely different from our mad springer he’s not a working dog but boy is his brain complex. Left alone in boredom and he will destroy the place! Two totally different dogs and two totally different needs!

I completely agree with More Than and their recent survey here that while dogs keep their owners active there’s nothing better than that relationship between man & dog. More Than believe in this so much they sent us an amazing device called a PitPat Monitor. The Monitor attaches to their collar and allows you through your phone to track your dog’s activity’s and fitness and discover just what they’ve been up to while you’ve been apart.

This has been a blessing since summer as we’ve tried to exercise the dogs together but it was quickly highlighted that my eldest dog was not getting near enough exercise out and about while the pup was so very little. It was then very interesting to discover a month on that now the pup was more involved she was getting a lot more exercise at home than she had had previously laid at my feet and the long walks we used to take together in the evening were just a little too much for her. It has made such a huge difference to her relationship with the new pup and us. We ensure her brain and physical needs are not abandoned during puppy worship and training and also that she gets enough exercise while not being to tired to cope with a puppy which never seems to sleep!

My Top Tips for getting out with dog this winter:

Take a flask – we love going out on our local fields and brooks but after 15mins I am numb! A hot cup of tea is worth the weight in carrying in and actually my dogs are rather partial to the dregs!

Go with friends – Dogs are wonderful for socialisation. I tie in with a walk to a country café and we’ve all had a fabulous morning out with the dogs playing and me catching up with friends I would otherwise not have time for.

Wash their paws – Unfortunately some of the nastys around for animals look set to stay and we are so grateful for our pet insurance – queue new years day out of service fees – but vets are asking us to wash our pups paws & legs down after a muddy walk. While they aren’t 100% this is effective – surely for the sake of your pets it worth it?

Old Towels – Our car boot after a wet and muddy dog walk looks like a pig has been wallowing in it. Old towels are great for rubbing off the worse of the mud and also for laying over your car interior!

Water – Pop an old drinks bottle filled with water in the back of your car and a cheap container – even an old ice cream container. You might be cold and longing for a cuppa when you get home but your dog has probably run twice the distance and is need of a good few gulps!

I love how much More Than care about your dogs health and in turn how that affects you! Do go and check their MoreThan doggyssentials!