Our canine pals have a digestive system and enzymes that isn't quite built to handle theobromine and caffeine as well as ours. It's like having different tools for the job – our dogs lack the right ones to break down the chocolate ingredients efficiently, making them more susceptible to negative effects.

Chocolate and Dog Health – Keeping your Dog Safe this Valentines Day

Discover the perfect dog breed for your lifestyle! Learn about key factors and tips to find your ideal furry friend. Learn how to select the perfect dog breed that matches your family's lifestyle and preferences. 

How to Choose the Right Dog for your Lifestyle

The rising summer temperatures present a unique challenge for our furry companions.  Our responsibility goes beyond just providing a refreshing bowl of water; it's about understanding their needs, recognizing the signs of heat stress, and taking proactive steps to ensure their well-being.

How to Keep your Dog Cool in the Summer Heat

Top Tips for Holidaying with your Dog - How to Ensure Your Dog is OK When You're Both on Holiday

Top Tips for Holidaying with your Dog

Of the 222 different pure dog breeds, we show the rankings for 2022 arranged by the highest number of registrations to the lowest.

The Most Popular Pure Breed Dogs in the UK

Each dog has specific exercise needs based on factors such as their breed, age, size, energy level, and overall health. 

Understanding Your Dog's Exercise Needs

Just like us, our canine companions deserve to lead healthy and happy lives, and one of the key ways to ensure this is through regular exercise. 

The Benefits of Regular Exercise for your Dog - Keeping Them Fit and Happy

How to Keep your Dog Active

It is extremely stressful and traumatic for both you and your dog, so we have put together a list of things you should do to prevent losing your dog and what steps to take, if you do lose your dog or it goes missing.

What to Do If Your Dog is Lost or goes Missing

A yearly event running over four days and is a Crufts Qualifying Show run under the Kennel Club rules and regulations with both national and international entrants.

The Windsor Championship Dog Show 2023

We are sharing our simple top tips on how to look after your dog in the heat.

Top Tips to Keep your Dog Cool in the Summer Heat

The summer holidays are coming up and instead of worrying about putting your dog into a kennel, why not share your holiday experiences with our best friend? With a small amount of preparation you can ensure that both you and your dog will have a lovely time.


Check the Holiday Accommodation is Dog-Friendly

When you book your holiday accommodation there are several ways to ensure it is dog friendly and safe. Read the reviews from other dog owners, who have previously visited. They will tell you what is great about the property and what to look out for. Inspect the photos closely and look out for potential problem areas such as stairs or fruit trees in the garden, as fallen fruit attracts a lot of bees and wasps. 

Once you have arrived walk around the place with your dog to ensure it cannot get out through a fence or is interested in dangerous items such as wires and cables, which are safely tucked away at home and might therefore seem like an exciting new thing to investigate. 

Be aware that some places charge extra for larger dogs.

Ensure you have had your vet check your dog’s microchip is up to date and scans well. It is also a good idea for your dog to have its yearly checkup at this time to avoid any nasty health surprises, whilst you are away. 

Lastly make sure you have enough of its medicine, if required, to pack for your holiday.

An emergency situation is by its definition very stressful, so help yourself and your dog by having to hand the local vet details such as clinic location and telephone number and outside hours emergency number, should the worst thing happen and you need immediate help. 

Vomiting and Diarrhoea is a common problem for dogs on holiday. Drinking water from the sea or water in ponds, scavenging and a change of diet with perhaps a few more treats, than normal, can all wreak havoc with your dog's digestion, when you're on holiday. 

Check with your vet, which medicine they would recommend and pack it to avoid prolonged tummy issues.

If you are going abroad make sure you have an up-to-date pet passport and that your dog has had a recent vet checkup to clear it for travel. Please note that certain countries require vaccinations and tapeworm treatments. Your vet should be able to tell you, which treatments are required by your destination country. 

Please note that vets are busy during summer months and some treatments might take a while to complete, so you should book a vet visit well in advance of your departure date.

Invest in a Dog Travel Bag - it is very convenient to be able to pack all your dogs things into one bag such as :

Favourite Toys (Chew toys, Fetch toys and Tug toys)

Grooming kits includesing, Shampoos, and Tooth Brush

Having water and snacks easily available will also help, when making stops during your journey to the holiday destination.  

Most of these bags also have convenient compartments, so you can stand up water bottles.

Make sure to wash and brush your dog daily. It will exploring a new environment and when it is out and about, could pick up all kinds of things in its fur. 

Grooming is a great way to check, all is well and also ensure that matting does not occur. 

Furthermore regular grooming is one of the best ways to help keep your dog cool, as getting rid of shedding fur helps them regulate their temperature, especially if they have thick fur.

Make sure you check out our blog on Keeping your Dog Cool in the Summer Heat.

Research which venues in the vicinity are dog friendly. 

It might surprise you to know that certain beaches ban dogs for specific time periods, normally during the busy summer season. 

Also some castles and stately homes are dog-friendly but may have restrictions such as dogs being allowed in the grounds only.  

A holiday is a great time for your dog to socialise too. Check if there are any dog parks close to your holiday home or any local dog activities planned. 

Many villages hold local dog shows during the summer with fun categories and this is a great way for your dog to socialise and for you to meet local dog owners and learn about about dog friendly activities and venues in the area.

Even if your dog normally does not wear a collar, when away always make sure it wears a collar with an identity tag with your name, holiday address and contact details, so if it gets lost you can be reunited as quickly as possible. 

Also ensure its microchip is checked by your vet before going away.

Whilst it is great to explore with your dog remember that they need a lot of rest too. 

Dogs need to rest between 16-18 hours per day, so make sure your schedule reflects this.

Most dogs love a routine, so try to stick to their routine, whilst on holiday. This includes feeding at the same time and exercising at the same time too. 

This will help keep your dog calm and happy, even when in a new unfamiliar place. It’s great, if the accommodation provides a dog bed, but we suggest you also bring a favourite blanket and toy to make your dog feel comforted, if you leave it alone to go out for dinner or at night, especially if you are leaving it in a separate room or downstairs.

The DoggyLush team hope you and your dog have a paw-fect holiday

CONTENTS

Check the Holiday Accommodation is Dog-Friendly

Get a Pre-Holiday Vet Check Up

Get the Destination Vet Details

Ensure Pet Passports are Up-to-date

Packing for your Holiday

Keep up with the Washing and Brushing

When You are Out and About

Prepare for Activities and Walks

What should I do if I lose my dog

Schedule some Rest & Relaxation

Prepare a Daily Routine

CONTENTS