Love Paws Blog

Things to think about when selecting a dog walker for your furbaby-

✔️Are they insured? 

This is a must, always ask and check before choosing a dog walker. 

✔️What experience do they have? 

Everyone has to start somewhere but what is their experience with animals, have they worked with different breeds or had family pets. Have they completed any courses like first aid to help build knowledge. 

✔️Paperwork/contracts? 

It’s important we know everything about your dog and we have asked you to complete all paperwork to ensure we are working safely.

✔️Safe transport? 

If we are picking up your dog, it’s important that we have safe transport to minimise any risks. 

✔️ Meet & greet offered? 

We should always meet you and your dog before starting any walks. This makes sure everyone is happy, comfortable and we learn more about your dog. 

✔️Ask how many dogs will be walked?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the walks, to have an understanding of how your dogs walk will work. 

Look at social media, website, reviews or get a recommendation from a friend. It’s important you do your research before selecting the right dog walker for you and your dog.

Coming soon!

Let’s be real, summer in Scotland doesn’t last long but sometimes we get the odd hot day/week and it’s important we adjust our dogs routine to keep them safe.

Some tips to help keep your dogs cool-

• Walk early or late in the evening at the cooler times of the day.
• Always supply fresh water.
• Make a nice cooling treat for your dog, soak a rope toy in water and freeze, make a licki mat with some fat free yogurt and their favourite treats and freeze or have some doggy icecream in the freezer.
  
• It’s important not to let them lie in the sun to long but when they do, place a cooling mat or wet towel for them to lay on. 

Depending on your chosen walk the items you require may differ but here are the basics I recommend.

• Poo Bags
• Spare Lead
• Bag with foldable water bowl, treats & wipes
• Rain coat for you and highly recommend a body suit for your dog

Other items if you are going on an adventure walk may include-

• A first aid kit
• Food
• Water
• Torch & Light up key ring for dogs harness 
• Tracker for your dogs collar/harness 

You can buy lots of enrichment games/toys online for your dog to help keep them entertained at home.

Snuffle mats, Licki mats, Snuffle balls, Kongs, Interactive toys and more. 

You can also can create lots of games with some basic home items.

Grab an old towel and pop some treats inside and wrap the towel up or tie in a knot and let your dog sniff out the treats.

Fill an empty toilet roll up with treats and fold over the edges or stand them up tall and drop treats inside.

Hide treats around the home and allow your dog to sniff them out.

Play date with a doggy friend, tug of war, through a ball, hide and seek, fetch or train a new trick. 

Always start your day with a long lie…

I then like to get up and head out to the garden to check for any intruders (foxes, cats, birds or squirrels), once I have checked the premises I can come back in and enjoy breakfast. 

Mum then gets ready for work, I sometimes go with her after taking a look if the weather is to my liking, I’m a sun girl and don’t do rain! 

So I either enjoy a day at home relaxing and barking at anyone/anything that comes near to the house & garden or I spend the day with mum and my fur friends. 

Once mum finishes work, it’s snack time for us both and this is a must have everyday. 

Dinner is around 5pm and then I like to play ball or mum makes me an enrichment game to enjoy.

We sometimes hangout with dad but he doesn’t hand out the treats as easily as mum so I choose who I spend my time with wisely. 

We then head to bed where I like to stretch out in the middle and mum & dad fit around me as I’m the house princess. 

Keep it real fur friends!