Updated September 2026 Fireworks season can make something as ordinary as taking your dog for a walk much more complicated. A dog who is normally confident outside can be startled by a sudden bang. A nervous or rescue dog may become reluctant to leave home. Even a dog with excellent recall may run when frightened….
Fireworks have started, and your dog is frightened. Perhaps they are shaking, panting, hiding behind the sofa, following you everywhere or refusing to go into the garden. Or perhaps they have become very quiet and are simply lying somewhere looking tense. If you are reading this while fireworks are already going off, tonight is not…
Updated August 2026 Tug can be a brilliant game to play with your dog. Played thoughtfully, it gives your dog an appropriate outlet for grabbing, pulling and shaking, provides physical and mental enrichment and can make you much more interesting to your dog. It can also be a useful reward during training. And no, playing…
Updated August 2026 Choosing a dog toy is about more than finding something your dog likes. A toy also needs to be the right size, material and type for the individual dog using it. A small ball may be fine for one dog and a choking risk for another. A soft toy may last for…
Updated September 2026 September is Animal Pain Awareness Month. It is a useful reminder that pain is not always obvious. A dog may not cry, yelp or refuse to move. Sometimes the first clue is simply that something familiar has changed. As a dog walker, I do not diagnose pain or decide what treatment a…
Updated August 2026 Bringing home a puppy should be something you remember for the right reasons. Unfortunately, not every puppy is bred or sold responsibly. Some are produced in poor conditions, removed from their mothers too early or passed through dealers who make it difficult to discover where they were born. A puppy farm is…
Dogs are remarkably good at adapting. That can be wonderful, but it also means the first signs of joint discomfort can be surprisingly easy to miss. A dog doesn’t necessarily start limping as soon as something hurts. You might first notice them taking a little longer to get out of bed, walking more slowly, hesitating…
Updated August 2026 Dogs do not always bark, growl or run away when they feel uncomfortable. Earlier signs can be much quieter. A dog may turn their head away, lick their lips, yawn, scratch or begin sniffing the ground. These actions can be easily missed or dismissed because they also occur as part of normal…
