For centuries, dog has been a man’s best friend, showering their owners with companionship and loyalty. In fact, 67% of dog owners named their pooch their best friend according to new research by Asda Money. It seems the special bond with our four-legged friends has grown closer than ever before, with UK pet owners admitting to putting their dog’s dietary needs before their own when it comes to mealtimes, with 62% putting the nutritional benefits first when purchasing dog food. Yet, we focus on taste and cost when it comes to our own food intake. Further research has revealed that when choosing what type of pet food to purchase, over half (62%) of UK dog owners place most importance on health and nutritional benefits, with other factors such as brand (33%) and cost (38%) being less of a priority. Yet, when it comes to our own food intake, flavour (59%) impacts our decision making the most. Are you thinking about vising Suffolk with your four-legged friend soon? If so then this article will give you some brilliant ideas on things to do! Visit Suffolk have put together their top things to do in the county that welcome your dog with open arms! So, grab that lead and water bowl and get outside and explore with your family in tow! 1) National Trust, Sutton Hoo - open Spring 2019 The hauntingly beautiful Anglo-Saxon royal burial site located near Woodbridge is the home to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. Get up close to your ancestors and explore the burial ground of kings gone by. Whilst the museum may be off limits, dogs are allowed to walk around the 255 acre estate with views of the river Deben. There are two different walks on offer with plenty to see and sniff along the way. Sutton Hoo is currently going through an exciting renovation of the site and the surrounding walks thanks to a £1.8million National Lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and from the support of their visitors and supporters. The project called “Releasing the Sutton Hoo Story” will help create an experience that will allow visitors to discover more about the internationally significant site. Sutton Hoo will be gradually opening their new developments in stages throughout the spring and summer of 2019 perfectly timed for optimum dog walking weather! Find out more here. 2) The East Anglia Transport Museum - open April to October Admission: £9 Adults, £8 Seniors, £6 for children between 5 and 15 Since it’s beginning in 1962, when 5 local tramway enthusiasts rescued an old tramcar that was being used as a summer house, the museum transformed into a place where the vehicles of yesteryear can be seen in action, where half-forgotten sounds of the past are brought back to life with the widest range of preserved vehicles of any museum. You and your family can see and hear the vehicles from the past. You can even hop-onto some of their working vehicles with your dog. All aboard the vintage Tramway which takes you through the museum street and into the beautiful surrounding woodlands. The East Suffolk Light Railway which winds its way along the northern perimeter of the museum is used to recreate the typical light railway, and you can experience just what it was like back in the day. Find out more here. The purpose-built complex cost £100,000 and forms part of an overall £1.3m revamp at PetPlace in Abergele.
As well as a cinema screen there will be a health store, play park and coffee bar selling nutritional food and drink for dogs. Pooches can drink canine tea and coffee or enjoy a bowl of the aptly-titled Pawsecco or doggie beer, Bottom Sniffer. They can also scoff healthy snacks and watch a selection of movies, from Beethoven to 101 Dalmatians and more. Managing director Sion Pritchard says the unveiling comes after months of hard work by the PetPlace team, who have managed to keep it a secret while refurbishing the 4,000 square foot site in time for the red-carpet launch. “The entire Abergele store has had a complete rebrand in the last year, and this is the icing on the cake,” said Sion, who joined the firm in 2000 before taking the helm five years ago. “We looked at several options for the space before deciding to do something unique, something no other pet store in the UK has ever done before. “They are years ahead of the UK in terms of the service they provide in-store, from vets to kennels and dog groomers,” said the 38 year-old. “That said, the quality here is far superior, we have taken it to a whole new level and included a social aspect that will attract pets and their owners.” He added: “The focus is on health and nutrition, but also the fun aspect in being able to watch movies or play in the park. It’s unlike anything else in the country and we are delighted with how it looks and functions.” Employing more than 90 workers at its five stores in Llangefni, Chirk, Mold, Ruthin and Abergele, and head office in Mochdre, PetPlace is winning new business and impressing long-standing customers with a fresh approach to the industry. The health and happiness of the animals is the number one priority, ensuring they and their owners have a great experience rather than just shopping for items and leaving. “We are focused on the pet, not the amount of stock we hold or sales targets,” said Sion. “The cinema and coffee bar are testament to that, and the product lines we are selling – including the Pawsecco and doggie beers – are all healthy and nutritious, as well as being fun and creating a buzz." SOURCE: www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news As we all know dogs love to run around outside having their own little adventures. And with winter coming to an end, both pets and owners will be spending more time outside. During this time it is important to be aware of the possible dangers in your garden. Here is a list of 13 potential dangers for you to keep an eye out for: 1. Fruit Many Brits might be surprised to learn that the stones and pits in apricots, cherries, plums and peaches contain deadly cyanide. These fruits could therefore be very dangerous if they’re crushed before they’re consumed and larger stones could be a choking hazard too, whilst the stems and leaves might also be poisonous. 2. Slugs and snails Dogs can catch a dangerous lungworm infection if they accidentally eat a slug or snail that carries the larvae of the parasite. Though your dog won’t usually want to consume slugs or snails, they should still be cleared away urgently, particularly any that are near toys or sources of water. 3. Plants Tomatoes, potatoes, azaleas and lilies are just some of the common vegetables and flowers that can be deadly to dogs. Unripe, green or raw potatoes can be severely dangerous to dogs, whilst tomato leaves, azaleas and every part of a lily could be poisonous to dogs and cause vomiting, diarrhoea or even death. If you must grow any of the above, make sure your dog can’t get to them while you’re not looking. 85% of UK Dog Owners Would Rather Staycation In The UK Than Holiday Abroad Without Their Pets6/1/2019 However, data reveals that 54% of the same group do not think there are enough dog-friendly locations in the UK
A recent study of UK dog owners has revealed that 85% would rather have a staycation in the UK with their beloved pooches than have a holiday abroad without them. The research by Away Resorts, UK holiday park operator, discovered that over two thirds (67%) of those asked have gone as far as to sacrifice a holiday altogether because they could not bear to leave their dogs behind. However, when asked if they thought there were enough dog-friendly locations in the UK, the majority (54%) said no. For the 79% choosing to take UK holidays with their dogs, Away Resorts have analysed data on the friendliest UK regions for dogs, with the South East coming out on top. The South East is the UK’s most dog-friendly region The three friendliest regions for dogs are the South East, the South West and the East of England. This is based on the number of dog-friendly pubs in each region, the number of walks listed and the number of vets in those areas. Jayne Tilsley, manager of the Fox and Hounds pub in the South East, which is renowned for its dog-friendliness, said: “I feel the South East has the strongest dog-friendliest places…The team truly believe that allowing dogs into the business creates a whole different ambience. “We believe that fur babies are just as important as our human guests. We have opened, created and maintained a whole new footfall and pawfall of guests.” The pub offers pawsecco and dog beer, as well as towels to dry wet muddy paws, a selection of dog beds, dog-friendly ice-cream and in the summer even offer a dog exclusive paddling pool. The participants of the study said they would like to see more dog-friendly; holiday parks (27%), hotels (27%), pubs (16%), beaches (15%) and restaurants (14%). Rosie-Ellis Brothwood, Guest Experience Manager of Away Resorts’ Sandy Balls Holiday Park, said: “We are passionate about making memories with the whole family, and that includes with your beloved canine companions. This is why all accommodation grades across five of the Away Resorts parks are dog-friendly.” Away Resorts even include dog biscuits in welcome packs going out to guests visiting with their dog. You can view the Away Resorts Pawsome Getaway data page here: https://awayresorts.co.uk/pawsome-dog-holiday/ Survey Methodology Away Resorts asked 1000 UK dog owners, ages 18+ ten questions about the dog-friendliness of the UK, their holiday habits with their dogs and more. The data can be provided upon request. Friendliest dog regions data was collected from various websites and included pubs, walks and vets in each region. Final numbers were based upon averages where multiple sites were used. Dog trackers are technology that allow you to see where your dog is via an in-phone app which connects to a tracking device on your dog’s collar. With a tracker fitted you shouldn’t have any concerns about losing your dog. However, there are many different types available and it can be difficult choosing the best one for your needs. We asked six of our DogFriendly Members to trial a few of the trackers on the market and share their experiences with us. We found that the experiences were very different depending on the tracker, the dog, the area and the location of use. We haven’t reached any great conclusions on which tracker is best, if any. But certainly it’s interesting reading. If you have a tracker we’d love to hear your feedback at our new dedicated tracker page. Here you can just score your tracker out of 5. www.dogfriendlybooks.com/ratetracker. Our thanks to David Brant and Dazy, Karen Smith and Theo, Rachel West and Libby, Anthony Hagger and Finn, Tony Stockman and Ralph, Sue and Douglas Fowler and Zara for being involved in the trial. 1.THE MISHIKO TRACKER WITH DAZYDog: Dazy Breed: Beagle – Tri colour Age: 3 years Tracker: Mishiko Mobile Network: Virgin Reviewer: David G Brant Dazy is a friendly dog who loves any type of walk, but especially those where her doggy friends are present. She dislikes any water over 1” (after trying to jump a dyke as a puppy and only got half way).
“Overall this tracker didn’t achieve expectations. On a local walk it’s tracking detail was ok, but once out in more rural areas it tracking and mapping of a walk become extremely poor and unusable. While to note mobile signal strength was relatively strong. On occasion it would show Dazy some 3 miles away when she was 50 yards from me. And failed to track whole of walks often showing a straight line between top and start. There were a number of overall issues relating to battery charging which couldn’t be done on collar and any slight movement while charge would prevent it charging and start syncing to the phone. The support for the Mishiko was only available via an App and took up to 5 days for a response. Geo-fence (creating an alarm perimeter) faired no better and once created it remained static and could not be changed. Causing numerous alarms to go off once a new walk was progressing. Sorry Mishiko not impressed. 1 star“ READ MORE FOR SIX DIFFERENT TRACKER REVIEWS By definition, an island should be a land form surrounded by water. The Isle of Purbeck in South East Dorset is not entirely cut off from the rest of Dorset but it does have a number of characteristics which set it apart from the rest of the county.
The location of ‘The Lookout’ is incomparable. A very steep and winding road takes you from Corfe Castle to the village of Kingston. The cottage is three quarters of a mile further on towards Worth Matravers, on the escarpment with outstanding views in every direction. A well maintained path could take you in one direction back down the valley to Corfe Castle or follow the path adjacent to the cottage to Chapman’s Pool to pick up the Coast Path. The cottage is a perfect dog-friendly escape for two people. The best features of the cottage are its lounge area with comfy soft furnishings and a fire for cold months and the enclosed garden with garden furniture for outdoor dining in the summer and a well-placed stone bench for admiring the setting sun over the hills in early autumn. We stayed at Weybourne Hall Park in Norfolk in a pet friendly bungalow,it was a wonderful experience,the pub shop and beach all within walking distance.I would highly recommend.
We (two adults and two dogs) stayed at Annie's Cottage organised by Sykes Cottages just outside Bodmin, Cornwall. The great thing was the enclosed garden and tiled flooring in the downstairs of the property, there was also a safe enclosed paddock area for the dogs to roam freely. We could only visit dog-friendly places during our holiday and these included Healey's Cyder Farm, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Courtroom Experience, Bodmin Jail, Jamaica Inn, The Witchcraft Museum in Boscastle and the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. All of these attractions were very dog-friendly and it was lovely to see my dog's curiosity with the different animals she saw at these places and how well behaved she and all the other dogs were.
We (2 people, 3 dalmatians and 1 IRWS) recently rented a holiday cottage through 'East Ruston Cottages', based in Norfolk. The accommodation was lovely, the enclosed garden was dog-safe, and there were plenty of dog-friendly pubs and cafes nearby. The beaches were fantastic for the dogs to run off lead and we all had a great holiday.
The cottage (Badger's Retreat) was clean, warm, comfortable and homely; there were fresh flowers and home-made cake, along with eggs and milk, to welcome us, and treats for the dogs. Throws were provided for the furniture (although we'd brought our own) and as well as TV and free WiFi there was a good selection of books, games and DVDs for wet-day entertainment. Very highly recommended! |
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