All throughout the year, people love to celebrate with fireworks, but as New Year’s Eve approaches, we all know it’s impossible to avoid them. Unfortunately, for many of our pets, especially dogs and horses, fireworks can be absolutely terrifying and anxiety inducing. 💥🐾
The best thing you can do as a pet owner is to be aware and prepared.
Here are some helpful tips to make the night a little easier for your furry (or hooved) friends.

🏠 Stay Home if You Can
If you know there are going to be fireworks, try your best to stay home with your pet. Earlier in the day, take your dog for a nice long walk and burn off as much energy as possible. Then feed them a few hours before the fireworks begin.
A well-fed and tired dog is far more likely to stay calm and relaxed during the night. 

🎶 Keep Calm and Carry On
If your dog begins to fret, avoid over-soothing or fussing over them. This can accidentally reinforce their fear, as they may think there’s something to worry about.
Instead, stay calm, confident, and upbeat! Create a safe and comfortable hiding place indoors, ideally in a familiar room they are already comfortable in, and help distract them with toys, treats, or even some gentle background music. 
Encourage calm behaviour with praise and affection when they’re relaxed. Surround them with their favourite toys, and provide chewable treats or bones to keep them occupied.  Chewing for dogs actually releases hormones that are considered 'happy hormones' like serotonin, dopamine and endorphins and is an activity that a dog needs to concentrate on. So something they can focus on and chew on can benefit them in many ways. 
Continue this positive, reassuring energy both during the fireworks and after the noise has stopped, don’t just walk away the moment things quiet down.

🚪 When Bringing Them Inside Isn’t Possible
Sometimes bringing your dog indoors just isn’t an option. In that case, set up a secure and enclosed space such as a garage or shed, and cover any windows to reduce flashes and noise.
⚠️ Never restrain your dog with a choker chain, rope, or lead. Frightened dogs can panic and injure themselves trying to escape.

🆔 Make Sure They’re Identifiable
Scared dogs often try to run away from the noise — and fireworks can come from all directions, making it even more disorienting. Always ensure your pet is wearing an ID tag with your current phone number included and is microchipped with up-to-date details. This greatly increases the chance of being reunited if they do escape. 

🩺 When to Talk to Your Vet
Some dogs can be desensitised to fireworks over time using gradual sound-training techniques. However, not all dogs respond to this. Others may have a true phobia of loud noises and can become extremely distressed.
If your dog shows severe anxiety, shaking, drooling, trying to escape, or not eating, consult your veterinarian. They can recommend behavioural strategies or safe anxiety-relief medications to help manage your pet’s fear. 

​With a little planning, patience, and understanding, you can help your pets feel safe and secure during firework season. Here’s to a calm and happy New Year for you and your furry family! 🎆🐾✨

Christmas time can get a little stressful around the house for us, so imagine what it must be like for our pets! Things are being moved around, bright flashing trees are going up, and lots of visitors are coming and going. It can all be very exciting for our dogs, but also a little intimidating at the same time.
​
Here are some tips to help keep your dog comfortable and ensure everyone enjoys the festive season 🎅🐶

🕒 Stick to Their Routine
Try to keep your dog's routine as regular as possible. If you're planning on having guests over, make sure to give your dog plenty of exercise beforehand. The more energy they burn off, the less they'll have to burn when the guests arrive!

🗑️ Watch That Trash!
When preparing food, remember it smells amazing to your pets! Even once the rubbish is thrown out, make sure it’s secure! Even the sneakiest pets can sniff it out and help themselves.
Something as small as mesh netting around a roast can cause serious problems if ingested, potentially leading to intestinal blockages or even fatal bloat. You can never be too careful!

​🎄 Tree-Safe Tips
If your pooch is an indoor dog, be mindful when decorating your tree. If they have a favourite spot near a window or in the living room, try placing the tree elsewhere, or risk it coming down when they go for their usual perch!
To minimise temptation, place decorations higher up the tree and leave the lower branches bare. Those shiny baubles can be very tempting to curious paws and noses!

🌲 Live Trees & Water Hazards
If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure to regularly change the water at the base and block your dog from accessing it. The water can contain pine tar and other chemicals, which are toxic to dogs. A simple barrier can prevent a lot of trouble!

🎁 Beware the Wrapped Treats
Keep an eye on wrapped gifts under the tree, especially if they contain food! 🎁 Dogs have incredible noses and may not wait until Christmas morning to unwrap something tasty (and possibly dangerous). They’ll eat the packaging and all!

🍷 Mind Your Guests (and Their Drinks)
Let your guests know that Fido is around. Something as simple as a glass of wine left on the floor or a dropped cigarette butt can cause serious internal issues for your dog. Keep an eye on where drinks and other hazards are placed during your celebrations.

With a little bit of caution and plenty of love, you and your furry family members can enjoy a safe and yappy Christmas together! 🐾🎅🎁

Be sure to share your pooches Christmas photos with us - we love to see them! ​

⚠️⚠️ - Be sure to avoid high protein and sugar free peanut butters for pets as these can contain Xylitol which is toxic to dogs! ⚠️⚠️​

As we prepare to celebrate the holiday season, it's important to remember how much of a change this time of year can be for our dogs - especially if you enjoy decorating your home, both inside and out.
The tips below are a great reminder of how to keep your furry friend safe and happy before Santa’s arrival!

Toxic Foods to Watch Out For 🍫🍬🍇
​
While some foods are available year-round, the holiday season often brings an increase in baking, cooking, and gift preparation and creates more opportunities for your dog to accidentally consume something harmful.

Common Christmas foods that are toxic to dogs include:

• Chocolate
• Grapes
• Raisins
• Onions
• Alcohol (even when cooked into food)
• Xylitol (a sweetener found in many lollies and sugar-free products)
  
  

❗Important:❗ If your dog consumes any of the above, take them to a vet immediately. Urgent treatment increases the chances of a full recovery.

Presents Under the Christmas Tree 🎁🎄

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, which can lead them straight to food-based gifts under the tree. Even if wrapped tightly, your dog can still sniff them out. This can lead to them not only ingestion toxic foods and destroying someone's gift but also risks them digesting wrapping and packing material which can cause blockages. 
Consider placing food gifts out of reach of your dogs and away from the Christmas tree to avoid upset all round. 

Real Christmas Trees and Pets 🌲🐶

The beautiful smell of a real Christmas Tree is one of the special aspects of Christmas, but they also present hazards for  our pets.

Two key dangers for dogs include:

1. Tree needles: If ingested, these can cause gastrointestinal irritation, internal punctures, or blockages.
2. Tree water: The water in the tree stand may contain pesticides, fertilizers, and natural sap, all of which are toxic to pets. Make sure the base of the tree is covered or blocked off so your dog cannot access it.

Christmas Decorations and Lights 🎀🎇​

​Decorating your home is one of the joys of the festive season, but many decorations can be dangerous for pets.

Watch out for:

• Shiny ornaments that dogs may chew or swallow, causing mouth injuries or digestive issues
• Loose tinsel, ribbons, or string lights that can pose a choking hazard or lead to blockages if ingested
• Electrical cords, which may be tempting to chew and can cause electric shock or even death
  ​

Always place decorations and cords well out of reach, and supervise your dog when new items are introduced into the home.

Festive Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs 🌿🌺

Many beautiful holiday plants are toxic to dogs.
Two common examples include:

• Holly
• Poinsettia
  
  

If you choose to decorate with real plants, make sure they are placed out of reach and are not accessible to curious paws.

The holiday season should be a time of joy for the whole family and this  includes our pets. By taking a few simple precautions, you can ensure your home is both festive and safe for your dog.
​
Looking for more tips on pet safety during the holidays? Stay tuned to our blog for more seasonal advice, or speak to your vet about how best to prepare your home.

1. Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual and they will appreciate long comforting dog leans.

2. They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume that all the gifts are yours.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it up in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know: - Don't pee on the tree - Don't drink water in the container that holds the tree - Mind your tail when you are near the tree - If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open - Don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny-looking hole in the wall to the tree

5. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part: - Not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans - Don't eat off the buffet table - Beg for goodies subtly - Be pleasant, even if unknowing strangers sit on your sofa - Don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important: - Observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses. (4a is particularly important) - Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house - Tolerate children - Turn on your charm big time

7. A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night. DON'T BITE HIM!! ​

Christmas time can become stressful around the house for us, so imagine what it must be like for our pets! Things being moved around the house, bright flashing trees are going up and lots of visitors are coming and going. This can all be very exciting for our dogs can also a little intimidating at the same time. Here's some tips to help keep Fido comfortable and enjoy the festive season.

• Keep your dogs routine as regular as possible, if you are planning on having guests around try and exercise your dog as much as possibly. The more energy he burns before hand, the less he is going to use when the guests arrive.
• When preparing food remember that this all smells very lovely and tasty to our pets so even once the rubbish has been thrown out make sure it is secure so even the sneakiest pet can shove their nose in and help themselves. Something as small as the mesh netting around meat can get caught up in the intestines and possibly lead to fatal bloat, so you can never be too safe.
• If your pooch is an inside doggy, be mindful of this when decorating your tree. If there is a particular spot in the window that he likes to sit in or through place the tree elsewhere as you could find it coming down after him. Placing decorations higher on the tree and leaving the lower branches bare will also help to minimise the risk of someone helping themselves to the shiny pretty objects.
• If you have a live Christmas Tree be sure to regularly change the water and have barriers to prevent your from getting the tree's base as the water can contain Pine Tar which is poisonous to dogs.
• Be mindful of any gifts already wrapped under the tree, especially if they contain food. Dogs have an excellent sense of smell and will most likely eat all the packaging plus the food inside.
• Keep your guests aware that Fido is hanging around as well. Something simple as an alcoholic drink placed down or a dropped cigarette but can cause internal issues for your dog and needs to be avoided. 

With a little bit of caution and plenty of attention, you and your furry family members can enjoy a safe and yappy Christmas together!
​

Are you getting into the festive spirit with some baking for the holidays? If so why not make some doggy friendly treats for our 4 legged friends too?! Popski, one of our December Dogs of the Month, thinks this recipe is paw licking good!

Holiday Chicken and Chedder Treats

You will need

• 1 cup rolled oats
  
  
• 1/3 cup margarine
  
  
• 1 cup boiling water
  
  
• 3/4 cup cornmeal
  
  
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
  
  

• 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
  (concentrated chicken flavour)
• 1/2 cup milk
  
  
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  
  
• 1 egg
  
  
• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
  

 

1. Preheat the oven to  165 degrees . Grease cookie sheets. In a large bowl, stir together the rolled oats, margarine and boiling water. Set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Combine the cornmeal, sugar, and bouillon, stir into the oat mixture along with the egg and milk until smooth. fold in the shredded cheese. Gradually stir in the flour until a stiff but workable dough is formed. Knead the dough for a few turns. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a bone-shaped cookie cutter or cut into 1x3 inch rectangles. Place treats 1 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet to cool completely on wire racks.