Man's Best Friend
Dogs are known as man’s best friend for a reason. These loyal companions will follow in our very footsteps given half a chance and stay by our side through even the worst weather. Like the famous tale of Greyfriars Bobby, the faithful terrier who trudged the cobbled streets of 19th century Edinburgh on the night watch with his master, then watched over his gave for 14 years after he passed away. This devoted dog is memorialised in a statue on the south side of George IV Bridge.
“Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all”
Not only will our pups go to the end of the earth for us, but equally the connection we have with them mean they are more than just ‘pets’ to us and we love to spoil them and show our affection.
Unfortunately, not all dogs are lucky enough to have found a family so in 2015 car manufacturer Subaru in America partnered with the ASPCA to try and make a difference to the ever-rising dog shelter numbers. Approximately 3.3 million dogs are left in shelters each year in America and Subaru wanted to create a national day of awareness (National Make A Dog’s Day on 22nd October) to encourage people to visit shelters, volunteer at shelters or adopt these abandoned pups (if their situations allowed).
Their aim was to give all dogs the best day of their lives, and while we know not everyone is in a position to add another dog into their family, here are some ways to delight your furry friend.
Take a Break - Life can get pretty busy, but it’s important to take a break and spend some time with your pet. Whether that is playing on the floor with a new toy or getting outside and exploring somewhere new. This will release happy hormones for both you and your dog.
Let him destroy his toy– It’s time to grin and bear it as you watch your dog destroy their new toy. This is a great way for them to release any tensions or frustrations and let out their animal instinct.
Have a Dance Party - Turn the tunes up and dance with your pup. What a great way to let loose and bond, and who knows maybe they will have a natural flair and you’ll be entertaining at the next World Canine Freestyle Championships.
Brush his teeth – Teeth are your pet's 'knife and fork' and without them they can’t break up, cut or chew their food properly. Recent studies show 80% of dogs show signs of gum disease by the age of three. This is a serious problem as it can cause teeth to fall out or need removed, plus bad breath and pain for your pooch. He may not like it initially, but he will thank you for it in 10 years.
Get them thinking – Playing Hide and Seek with your dog is not only fun, it also improves your dog’s scent tracing skills and works on their ability to ‘stay’ and return. Puzzle bowls and toys are also a great way to stimulate them and keep them entertained particularly for dogs who are home alone often. Also, let them sniff and explore when you are out on walks as it adds an element of sensory enrichment and they will be exhausted when they get home.
Have a Pooch Pamper Day - We’ve got everything you need to keep looking after your dog’s coat between grooms and keep them walking tall. With our new Pet Packs, you can get a bespoke selection of products suitable for your dog’s coat. This makes at-home grooming completely fuss-free and ensures that you’re using the correct products to get the best results at home.
Madra Mor has a great range of rich clay masks for your dog. The Soothing Mud Mask is packed full of colloidal oatmeal, and nourishing aloe vera powder along with Vitamin A and Zinc. This is fantastic to hydrate your dog’s skin and helps promote healthy cell regeneration. Another fantastic Hydrating product for your pup, which also contains soothing oatmeal, is Tropiclean’s Blueberry facial scrub. This is perfect for white and light coated dogs and will cleanse and remove dirt and tear stains.
A relatively new brand to our site is Igroom, and their products are the perfect luxury pet care to treat your dog at home. Their exceptional canine eau de toilette fragrances are the Jo Malone of the pet grooming world. They have also developed a K9 Skin Rescue balm for perfect for noses, paws and any other dry areas that needs some extra love.
Have a Duvet Day – If you want to snuggle up on the sofa with your dog or entertain them while you’re busy DOGTV have you covered. DOGTV shows programmes specifically tailored for dogs. These will keep your pup’s attention with their constant action and rolling landscapes (because let’s face it they really wish they were roaming free outside). The music used is at a frequency to keep your dog from being startled or getting agitated and as dogs struggle to distinguish green, yellow and red objects based on their colour, these programmes are specifically coloured to enhance the picture for them.
