From the monthly archives:

February 2012

Dog Carriers for Crufts 2012 – What’s On?

by chris on February 29, 2012

Hopefully you all have your dogs prepared for Crufts next week, or if you’re not taking a dog, I hope you’ve got your tickets!  It is taking up 5 halls of the NEC in Birmingham so it is looking to be an enormous and entertaining show for people of all ages and I’d definitely recommend it to all.

I thought I would just do a summary of the different days and things to see at Crufts 2012, hopefully it will save you some time and you won’t have to scout through countless names and stall numbers to find the most popular stands.

Day 1 is toy dog and utility dog day.  This will be Thursday 8th March and the shows are only for these two categories of dogs.  There are a total of five rings on this day, including the main arena.  There is a variety of experience levels in the main arena, from novice to the actual British Open.  These include agility, jumping and even heelwork to music!  There is also a chance for owners to present their dogs in the arena where the judges will decide which dog is the best.  However, if you’re looking to see a cute puppy then the GCDS Ring is where you need to be as there are Puppy Foundation Displays throughout the day.

Day 2 is gundog day.  There are similar shows on this day as there are on day 1, however, today is when the ever famous flyball events are held.  If you are not familiar with flyball, it is a team of dogs and owners that run a course of hurdles with a ball in their mouth and as soon as one dog gets to the end another dog runs the opposite way.  This is carried on until the one team gets all dogs through the course and wins.  This is a very lively event and is always a crowd pleaser!

Day 3 is working and pastoral dog day.  These events are similar to the previous days and the flyball, however these are the later rounds, such as semi-finals.  Flyball is also available for viewing in the YKC (Young Kennel Club) Ring on this day.

Day 4, the final day, is Terrier and Hound day.  On this day the main arena is closed around 3 o clock and the hall to be cleared ready for the best in show dogs – this is the final of every event.  You must have a separate ticket to get into best in show, or be showing yourself!

One of my favourite parts of the show is the Discover Dogs section where there will be over 200 breeds of dog to meet and learn more about.  This is located in hall 3 and will of course be the main attraction of this hall!  I’m sure there will be some puppies there for you all to see!

Of course, it would not be Crufts without the huge variety of stands supplying everything a dog or dog owner needs or wants.  If you have forgotten your show set, no need to worry there is a stall for that.  You could probably be showing at Crufts and come with just your dog and still find all the necessary showing equipment on the stalls around the five halls.  However, that would be a bit risky and irresponsible.  The most important thing is making sure you get your dog there so dog carriers are one of the key pieces of equipment.  Why not get yourself a Lightweight Dog Crate from Purely Pet Beds.  This would make the perfect Labrador dog bed for the day!  Also, this way the weight of the dog doesn’t seem so much for you and your dog can relax and get ready to show off!

Lightweight Pet Transporter – From £19.99

{ 0 comments }

Dangerous Dogs in the UK

by chris on February 22, 2012

Recently I have been reading articles more regularly involving attacks on people and children by dogs resulting in serious injury or even death for the people and dogs alike.  People will argue that certain breeds of dogs are evil and will attack anything and should be banned, others will argue that it is the upbringing of the dog that determines whether it is violent or not and has nothing to do with the breed.

To an extent, I would disagree with both of those arguments.  This is because I do believe that with some breeds, it is in their nature to defend themselves, whereas other dogs tend not to have to urge to defend as much.  There are four dogs that the UK government decided in 1991 that are unsuitable to be kept as pets due to their violent nature and are therefore illegal to own in this country.  These four dogs are; the Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino and any dog known as a Pitbull type such as the American Pitbull.  Sadly, this is mainly down to the reputation of the breed as they have often been bred for fighting in the past which is unfortunate as I’m sure they can be lovely dogs if they have the correct upbringing.

There are plenty of other dogs that people think should be banned that have attacked adults and children, however these cases are less regular than the attacks from the banned breeds.  Surprisingly, we in the UK have quite loose rules on dog ownership and banned breeds, only having four, whereas in the USA there are 75 breeds that have restrictions on ownership or are banned altogether.  Of course this is different dogs in different states and not the whole country.  So the dog that you have at home could in fact be restricted or banned in some American states!

However, I’m sure your own dog would not be classed as a “dangerous dog” in any country.  Why not show them how much you appreciate them and treat them to a luxury dog bed.  I think the most luxurious dog bed for a loving and loyal dog is the Ruff & Barker® Duvet Dog Bed.  This is due to its high quality, soft fabric supported by the cushiony, fibre interior that will keep your dog warm from the cold floor.

Ruff and Barker Duvet Dog Bed – From £28.99

On the note of banned breeds, these four dogs are possibly the strongest breeds of dog which is why they can overpower humans, ending in tragedy.  Below is a video of a Pitbull breed of dog pulling a car!

{ 0 comments }

Preparing For Crufts

by chris on February 15, 2012

Crufts is the biggest dog show in the UK and is held once a year at the NEC in Birmingham.  Whether you have a show dog or not, Crufts welcomes all dogs so it is a great day out for the family (and the dog) if you are lucky enough to get tickets!

However, if you are showing a dog for the first time or need a quick reminder on things you need to take then this is the perfect list for you.  I have spoken to a few Crufts veterans and compiled everything you need to enter Crufts with a chance of winning.  Firstly, you need to prepare the dog into showing condition.  This is done by increasing the length of their walks gradually for about a month before the show.  Dependant on the breed you can also a put weight in a backpack on their backs, but obviously this is for larger and stronger breeds.  You can also have hydro sessions to increase muscle and lose that extra bit of weight.  For those of you that don’t know, hydro sessions are basically swimming lessons for dogs.  The dog then needs bathing around 5 days before the show so that their coat is clean but not too soft.  Again, dependant on the breed you can brush them the night before to get unnecessary hairs from their coat and also to trim their nails if they haven’t been done in a while.

Now we move on to show day.  Owners often wear outfits that either match their dogs’ coat or match what their dog is wearing.  So if you have a Rottweiler you may wear a black suit with brown shoes, belt and tie.  It certainly makes you look the part and at Crufts, if you don’t match your dog you’ll probably be the odd one out!  Also you can’t forget your ring clips, which is an emblem to clip on your clothes with a matching image of the breed of dog you have.

Once all this is done you need to get all the essential equipment for your dogs.  The most essential is a show set, as you will be unable to show your dog without it.  Then of course you need all the essentials such as; towels, water bottles, groom accessories, poo bags, bait, toys, tack paws, first aid kit, running shoes, numbers of emergency contacts and credit card if you fancy making the odd purchase while you’re down there.

Another important accessory is their dog carriers to put your dogs in whilst they’re not being shown and of course, they need to be comfortable when in the carrier.  One way of keeping them comfortable would be to provide a Fleecy Bolster Dog Bed Mat to put inside the crate.  This is a fluffy mat with slightly raised sides to give the dog comfort whilst in its crate.  I would say that this product was a necessity for those crate trained dogs at Crufts.

Fleecy Bolster Dog Bed Mat – From £12.79

Finally, what I would say is the most important thing to take to Crufts would be your tickets!   So if you don’t have them yet I’d recommend getting them soon as it’s going to be a great show, not one to miss.  It’s not use preparing all that complex and specialist equipment if you don’t have your tickets.  Oh and remember the dog, too!

{ 0 comments }

Pet Valentine

by chris on February 13, 2012

Tomorrow is the day when people come together as one to celebrate their love for one another by buying their other halves a gift like flowers, jewellery; the list goes on.  There are many stories as to how Valentine’s Day was ‘created’ as such, and enquiries about whether there really was a St Valentine.

When most people think of Valentine’s Day they will picture big red hearts, flowers and flying babies that shoot arrows at people to make them fall in love.  Truthfully, Valentine’s Day only became a well-renowned holiday after it was written about by poet Geoffrey Chaucer when he was alive.  Macys in New York was one of the first department stores to market products especially for Valentine’s Day which was of course followed by many others all over the world.

Quite a few countries in the Middle East have banned Valentine’s Day as a holiday and made it illegal to sell any red items in stores around the time, this is because it is seen as a Christian holiday and is not celebrated in their religions.  However, lots of people in these countries still wanted to celebrate it as they saw it as a way to show love to their partners which encouraged to sale of roses and wrapping paper on the black market.  Thankfully in most countries Valentine’s Day, or some form of interpretation, is legal and there is no need for the illegal sales of flowers.

Have you ever thought that your pets might feel left out on Valentine’s Day with all the fuss and not understanding why?  I know I have and in the past have always got them a little something just to make them happy.  There is nothing that I would recommend more than a Classic Oval Dog Bed from Purely Pet Beds as they make a great bed for dogs to settle into and they are even big enough to fit two dogs!  That means that while you and your partner are snuggling up on the sofa, your dogs can join in the fun and snuggle together in their new Classic Oval Dog Bed.

If you have anything special planned for Valentine’s Day I’d like to hear what you’re doing and, as always, feel free to upload pictures of your dogs in their new Classic Oval Dog Bed on Valentine’s Day!

Classic Oval Dog Bed – From £13.99

{ 0 comments }