These young ones just don’t listen do they….I still can’t figure out which end is which so I’ll just keep my distance until the wind drops!

Not long now to one of my favourite days of the year…. PANCAKE DAY (Feb 9)
Having lived through many of these days already I can say with the utmost certainty that there will always be plenty of little titbits flying about when Sue tries to toss the pancake, usually more ends up on the floor than in the pan, not that I’m complaining.

Come to think of it, there’s loads of days that are close to my heart which are associated with food such as ; Christmas Day, Monday, Pancake Day, Tuesday, Wednesday, Easter, Thursday, Halloween, Friday and then there’s always Saturday and Sunday. Wow, I never realised I had so many favourite days!!

Although I do enjoy my food (not than you can tell… mainly due to airbrushing) there are some foods which I never have. It’s not always easy for you humans not to give us pooches the odd scrap off your plate, especially when we turn on the big sad eyes but a little bit now and again is ok with me as long as it doesn’t make me poorly. Here is a list of some of the things you can give me (in moderation of course) and some things you should NEVER give me.

                                                                 GOOD BOY FOODS

1. Peanut butter: Giving your dog the occasional tablespoon of unsalted peanut butter is a treat you can both enjoy. (Just make sure your brand of peanut butter doesn't contain xylitol….mainly in low fat varieties). It's a great source of protein and healthy fats for dogs.
2. Yoghurt: High in protein and calcium, plain yoghurt is an ideal treat for dogs, especially if your pooch suffers from digestion problems. Make sure you opt for yoghurts that don't contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
3. Oatmeal: Oatmeal is a good source of fibre, making it great for dogs with bowel irregularity issues, and it's also safe for dogs with wheat allergies. Before serving it to your pet, cook the oatmeal and don't add any sugar.
4. Chicken: If your dog requires extra protein in his diet, cooked, unseasoned chicken is an easy addition to his regular food. It also makes a good meal replacement if you're out of dog food.
5. Salmon: Dogs can benefit from omega 3 fatty acids too, so slip some cooked salmon into the food bowl for a healthier, shinier coat.
6. Broccoli: This vitamin-rich vegetable can be a great occasional nutrition boost for dogs. However, it shouldn't make up more than 10 percent of a dog's diet as it could cause gastrointestinal irritation.
7. Pumpkin: You can serve your dog pumpkin — raw or in a can — as a source of fiber or vitamin A. It's also a helpful addition to doggie diets if your pooch is experiencing digestion problems.
8. Green beans: Nutritious and low in calories, green beans are a good choice that will load dogs up with iron and vitamins. Make sure to feed your dog only fresh beans or canned ones with no added salt.
9. Cottage cheese: This bland food is high in calcium and protein, so it can be a good addition to dog food. However, avoid it if your dog has issues digesting dairy.
10. Carrots: This vegetable is low in calories and high in fibre and vitamins. Plus, crunching on carrots can be good for dogs' teeth.
11. Eggs: If your pooch needs a protein boost, scramble an egg for a healthy snack.

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                                                                   THAT’S A NO NO FIDO

1. Chocolate: You've likely heard that you're never supposed to feed a dog chocolate, and there's a reason for that. That delicious choc contains caffeine-like stimulants known as methylxanthines. If ingested in large amounts, chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, seizures and even death.
2. Grapes and raisins: While this fruit is nutritious for you, it's toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure.
3. Onions: They may make you cry, but they can make your dog very sick by causing damage to his red blood cells.
4. Avocado: Avocado leaves, fruit, seeds and bark contain a toxin called persin that can cause upset stomach and breathing difficulties.
5. Alcohol: Even drinking a small amount of alcohol can result in significant intoxication for a dog, which can lead to vomiting, seizures and even death.

Remember……. If you think your dog has digested anything that may cause it harm or discomfort, always consult your vet for advice.

My stomach is made from cast iron so I’ll give anything a try as long as it’s got a coating of gravy on but then again, I am a Labrador!! All this talking about food has made me feel really hungry. Hey Pete, where’s that salmon and chicken souffle I ordered?

Helpful Hint
One of my younger chums was going through the teething stage recently and asked me if there was anything he could try to help. I found the best thing for me was a  hollow Kong ball for puppies which was filled with a paste, which your vet can get for you if you’re unsure and then put in the freezer until frozen. It will last a good half hour or longer as you try to get the frozen filling out and it soothes the gums and lessens any discomfort. The balls come in different sizes for various breeds so there is the right one out there for you and they’re well worth it. As always, ask the vet if you’re in any doubt which is the right one for your dog. There are a lot of great sources of information out there for all puppies and the one I use because of my breed is www.thelabradorsite.com but there’s one out there for every possible breed with so much helpful advice and information.

On a final note, please remember to be responsible and pick up anything I do on the ground. I know sometimes carrying a poo bag around isn’t great, especially if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction but a really good thing to have to get rid of any unwanted odours while you find a suitable bin is a “Dicky bag”.

They come in various sizes…. depending on the size of your dog and how many you walk and also different colours. It’s basically a zipped fabric container with a separate, changeable air freshener that can be attached to my lead or on your belt.

An excellent product and very good value for money, they are widely available online through http://www.dickybag.com.
​ I would highly recommend this product to everyone.

That’s about it for this blog. Don’t forget to check in again soon to see what my friends and I have been up to and some more product reviews.

WOOF WOOF

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If however, there are some of you out there who enjoy being dressed up, then if you want to send me a photo I will put it on my gallery. Just email it to info@countrydogwalkers.co.uk and all your poochy friends can see you.
As part of being prepared for the festivities, here are my 12 rules of Christmas to help things run smoothly ;

1. First and foremost….. Xmas is all about ME!!!!!
2. If someone is stupid enough to dress up in a red suit and cotton wool and scare the hell                                                  out of me in the middle of the night, then of course I’m going to bite him.
3. If you think it was Santa and his reindeer who ate all the milk and cookies you left out then all well and good.
4. If wrapping wasn’t meant to be ripped into a million pieces then it would be made of stronger stuff wouldn’t it?
5. I can’t read so in my eyes,  EVERY present is for me!
6. I’m not sat in front of the oven door staring at the turkey because I’m greedy, I’m just trying to keep warm.
7. Instead of saying “get back, get back” constantly, why not just swap the hinges on the oven door to the other side, then I won’t be in the way will I?  
8. If it falls on the floor then it’s mine.
9. If it even looks like it might fall to the floor, I’ll catch it.
10. If you ever try to palm me off with sprouts I’ll bite you.
11. If I’m not laid on the floor in a big heap then I’m NOT full.
12. If all else fails, whine constantly until you breach their resistance (normally 2-3 mins).

I don’t know about the rest of you but what I really want this year is one of those new fangled hoverboards. After all, I am getting on in years now and the skateboard is getting too much like hard work! If I don’t get one then I’ll just annoy Pete & Sue by constantly playing with my squeaky toys until I get one…...yes, I DO know where you’ve hidden them!

That’s about it for now so I wish all my friends a very merry christmas and remember, when all else fails, whine, whine and whine some more!!

WOOF WOOF.

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Thats all for the moment but come back soon ton see where I've been and what I've been up to and if you have anything you want to share then just click on the facebook/twitter link on my home page.... see you soon.

​Woof Woof

So it’s that time of year again when all you humans out there think you can disturb my sleep with all that loud noise and flashing lights….. well think again!!   As you can see, it takes more than a few sky rockets and air bombs to unsettle me. Having said that, I know that for a lot of pets it can be a very stressful time of the year, in human terms it’s the same as waiting to go in and see the dentist if you’re very nervous or the sheer terror of the mother in law coming round!! I find the best way to avoid any unwanted stress is to stay indoors, get all cosied up on my favourite blanket (or sofa in my case), and watch a good film with Pete & Sue… oh, and a nice box of choccys always helps, NOT for me of course as they’re really bad for me (at least that’s what they tell me) but i much prefer a squeaky toy just to annoy them.

Funny story….and true!    Did you all here about the chocolate labrador called….wait for it…”TRIGGER” who accidently shot her owner Allie Cater in the foot while they were out hunting. The 11yr old lab stepped on 12-gauge shotgun, pressing the trigger and blasting her in the foot. Luckily, Allie is ok after a short trip to the hospital.

Here is the “trigger happy” pooch…

An eerie looking Roundhay Park lake, don’t think I’ll be going in for a dip today!!

See you all again soon.
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WOOF WOOF

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Pete and Sue have just taken me for a weeks holiday in Caemes Bay on Anglesey...it's a doggy paradise!! I stayed in a house right on the beach so every morning i made sure i (and everyone else) was up at first light so i could go for my early morning swim.

Nothing better than an early morning dip apart from the tasty seaweed left out on the beach for me...yummy! If that's not your flavour, they even have dog friendly cafes where i can enjoy a special breakfast of doggy treats while all Pete and Sue had was something called a "hot buttered scone". Honestly, some people don't know what they're missing. All this swimming makes a dog tired so what better way to unwind than a nice cool kitchen floor.

After a spot of lunch and a bit...ok, a lot more layin about, it's time to go back for another swim and this time i can jump straight in because the tide's in...yippee. I get dried off with these new fangled microfibre towels which are really great and would recommend to anyone as they absorb so much more water and every discerning pooch should have one. Pete and Sue took me to lots of different beaches in my very own van.

This has been the best holiday ever, so i think i may come back next year... it's pooch paradise and not bad for the two legged breed either!! Look out for my weekly blogs where you can see what i've been up to and i'll let you know what places you should go to....or not as the case may be. Bye for now and see you all again soon.

Woof Woof!