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5 fun things to do with your dog this Summer Summer doesn't just mean you have to search endlessly for beaches where four legged friends are welcome - as you know, most of them ban us from May to September. There are plenty of other fun adventures to be had when the sun is out in London and beyond. Here are some Summer dog friendly experiences, tried and tested by us. Please take care of your pooches in warm weather. Make sure you always have water for them and access to shade if necessary and also be aware how warm tubes, trains and buses can be. Spend the day at a London dog festival On August bank holiday weekend we will hosting our Four Legged Foodies Market at The Big Woof in King's Cross. This will be a fun packed weekend for all pooches including a run through the fountains to cool down! September 9th will also see us return to Duke of York Square for Chelsea Dog Day. Both these events are free to attend. See our tickets page for bookable activities. Go boating with GoBoat Round up a few friends, pack a picnic and head down to the river for a watery adventure where you don't have to get wet! Four Legged friends of all sizes are welcome on all GoBoats and fit up to 8 humans. The self-drive boats set sail daily from Paddington, Kingston and Canary Wharf and you can choose a 1,2,3 or 4 hour adventure. Prices from £95 for 1 hour trip. It's great fun and you get to see London from a different angle. Check out our Kingston blog for where to eat afterwards and be sure to visit Daisy Green when in Paddington. Where: Merchant Square,Paddington, Kingston Bridge and Bellmouth Passage, Canary Wharf Website: goboat.co.uk Go Walkies in Wisley If your humans love plants and beautiful landscapes, then you will enjoy an evening stroll at RHS Wisley. Pooches aren't normally permitted in these stunning gardens but they open them up for us on selected evenings from April to September. The landscape is constantly changing depending on what plants are in bloom but rest assured you will get plenty of photos for the 'gram! Times vary and get booked up quickly so get your tickets now if you want to go this year. Humans pay £7.50 entry and dogs go free. Grab a bite to eat at The Cricketers in nearby Cobham. Where: RHS Wisley, Wisley Ln, Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB Website: rhs.org.uk Take the train around Ruislip Lido Ruislip Lido is a great place to visit as there is a beach (dogs on leads), woodlands and best of all a miniature railway which goes around the perimeter. The journey lasts around 20 minutes and costs each human £2.50 - dogs go free. Be sure to pop into Ruislip centre and grab breakfast or lunch at The Red Onion Cafe . Where: Ruislip HA4 7TX Website: ruisliplido.com Spend a great day at DogFest DogFest has something for every dog and this year they have more shows than ever. There's still time to experience a DogFest this September with shows at Ashton Court, Bristol, Knebworth House, Herts and Harewood House, Yorks. At the shows pooches can try out activities such as flyball and agility. Humans can attend workshops and of course there is plenty of food and stalls selling everything a pampered pooch deserves. Use code FOURLEGGEDFOODIES for 20% off tickets. Website: dog-fest.co.uk Make a splash at The Marlborough Pool Pawty We had such fun at the Pool Pawty last year so are very excited to announce it will be back on Thursday 27th July. Pooches and their humans can have a fabulous time in the large garden at The Marlborough in Richmond, with a 3 course doggie menu and delicious food for the humans. Visit The Marlborough website for details and where to get tickets. Hope to see you there! Where: The Marlborough, 46 Friars Stile Road, Richmond TW106NQ Dine al fresco at a Young's Pub We have discovered there are more pub gardens in London that you might think. Some of them are hidden behind an unassuming frontage and are larger than the pub itself, some have small but pretty courtyards and some have river views. All of them are great for us pooches in warmer weather and some of them even have doggie ice cream! Visit Youngs.co.uk to find out where all the gardens are.

...and for most pampered pooches, you would think it is! Here's how you can celebrate this August 26th. London is one of the most dog friendly places in the world, so no wonder we fully embrace National Dog Day which is held on August 26th. We have found some of the best things to do with your pooch to celebrate this most wonderful of days! The Biggest and best of the events will be The Big Woof which takes place on Saturday 26th and 27th August. This is the first of what we hope will become an annual event, taking place in Coal Drops Yard, King's Cross. The event will have something for everyone and you can read all about what will be taking place here . Where: Coal Drops Yard, King's Cross, N1C 4DQ When: Saturday August 26th and Sunday August 27th 11.00 - 18.00 Our friends at Los Mochis have a special menu for all pooches who visit from August 21st to 25th. Four Legged Foodies will be treated to pumpkin cookies, chicken liver tacos and banana pupcakes. While humans can feast on the oh so delicious Mexican/Japanese fusion food! Where: Los Mochis 2-4 Farmer St, London W8 7SN When: Monday August 21st to Friday August 25th The ever so dog friendly cocktail bar at Smith & Whistle have an afternoon of nibbles on Saturday August 26th. From 12pm - 3pm pooches can join their humans for free treats and even have their gorgeous faces sketched by Smith & Whistle have a permanent doggie menu available for the rest of year with a selection of dishes and dogtails. Where: Smith & Whistle Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, Piccadilly, London W1J 7BX When: Saturday August 26th 12pm to 3pm The weather is looking good for the bank holiday weekend so a good excuse (if ever one were needed) to indulge in a gelato or two! Our friends at Badiani are introducing a Doggie Dessert and if it's anything like the human ones, it will be AMAZING! On Saturday August 26th, pooches can grab a free one with every human gelato purchased. The doggie desserts will then be available to purchase for the next few months. Where: Badiani - all 11 London locations. When: Saturday August 26th If you haven't been to LMH Townhouse yet then we can only assume you were only just born! The chic dog café on King's Road is a must visit for every pooch and on National Dog Day, all four legged visitors will be treated to a free pupaccino! Where: LMH Townhouse 330 King's Rd, London SW3 5UR When: Saturday August 26th 09.00 - 18.00 To celebrate National Dog Day, Lily's Kitchen have a special pop-up in Fitzrovia. The Happy House will be open from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th where you can play in the ball pits, sniff out some tasty treats, learn how to make a snuffle mat, get some health tips from Rory the vet and even have a nap in a cosy teepee! Book your visit to The Happy House here Where: The Happy House 67 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7PT When: Friday August 25th to Sunday August 27th 10.00 - 18.00 Who doesn't love donuts? We certainly do and so do our pals Frank and Alan! Great news for pooches, Krispy Kreme are launching special edition doggie doughnuts for National Dog Day. The pooch friendly version can purchased alone or as a bundle with human ones! (ours would cry if we left them out). Where: Krispy Kreme - all UK locations When: From now until stocks last!

Where to get your fill of pumpkins this October. Is that time of year again when you will spot these giant orange balls everywhere and every time the humans see them, it can mean only one thing. That camera will come out and you'll be asked to pose with them. Get the treats ready and head to these 2 spots which we think are the best places to get your pumpkin fix. Every October, London has a pumpkin trail in beautiful Belgravia. In 2023 you can visit the Belgravia Pumpkin trail from 23rd to 31st October and you will find cute and spooky displays at over 20 locations including Moyses Stevens , Chestnut Bakery and Neill Strain . Visit Belgravia London website for details of all participants in 2023. Gather up some friends, grab a willing photographer and have a fun day strolling around this beautiful neighbourhood. Make sure you pop in to see our friends at TomTom Coffee for refreshments as they love to see four legged friends! If you fancy visiting an actual pumpkin farm, then you won't find a better one than Tulleys Farm in Crawley. At Tulleys you can actually see the pumpkins growing and even buy some to take home with you and turn into those scary face lantern things we see in windows. There are lots of places to get food and drink and shops selling pumpkin related gifts. This is the place to also get some Hallowe'en pics which are even spookier if you go on one of their Pumpkin Nights! We are not that brave but our friend Skylar was last year. Good to know: Belgravia pumpkin trail is free and photography is encouraged. Tulley's farm is open until October 29th and entrance fee is £7 Pumpkin Nights are £11 The farm is around 1 hour drive from south west London (near Gatwick airport). There are regular trains to Crawley from London Bridge station.

We tested out some new pet tech by KitPlus . The world is all about innovative tech now, so why should the pet world get left behind? Good news! Our friends at KitPlus have some fabulous hi-tech products for us pooches. We tested some out and here's the deets. The KitPlus Smart Vacuum Feeder is an automatic feeder which dispenses food for your pet at set times programmed in by you. Pros of the Vacuum Feeder: It has a large food barrel (9L) which can be a great food storage solution for homes with limited space and the vacuum preservation technology helps to prevent moisture entering the food barrel and therefore food does not get mouldy. It is great for pets who may be left alone at feeding times. You can set the amount of food dispensed to help prevent over-feeding. All parts are detachable and easy to clean. Cons of the Vacuum Feeder: It only works for pets on a dry/kibble diet. It only works for single pet households (unless you have pets who will definitely not steal each others food or you purchase 2 feeders). At £149.99 this is not an item that suits every budget. KitPlus do have a smaller, non-vacuum feeder at £69.99. The KitPlus Pet Grooming Kit is an all-in-one grooming device which combines trimming, drying and vacuuming for dogs to be groomed at home. Pros of the Pet Grooming Kit: It is great for pets who don't like going to professional groomers or helps with maintenance between grooms. It really helps keep the mess to a minimum when grooming at home. It has speed and temperature controls for comfort and safety. The 2L dust cup capacity means you don't need to constantly empty. Cons of the Pet Grooming Kit: Not all pets will tolerate the noise, even on lowest setting. The price of £249.99 is high-end - however it could help you save on professional grooming. KitPlus have a smaller, less powerful grooming kit at £169.99. Our personal favourite KitPlus product is the PetPal Robot which is an interactive toy with built-in camera. Pros of the PetPal Robot: It is really simple to install via an app, which then allows you to control, view and record via your phone. It is a great way to keep your pet entertained when home alone, whilst also allowing you to keep an eye on them. It has some great, fun features like sound effects to entertain your pet. It is sturdy so your pet cannot easily damage it. It comes with a charging station that the robot will takes itself to when not in use. Cons of the PetPal Robot: We love this product and can only see one negative and that is the price of £249.99.

Online is all well and good but there's nothing like a good old-fashioned bit of shopping at Christmas time. You get to see all the pretty decorations, get a whiff of those festive smells and listen to some Christmas tunes. And with these great stores all being dog friendly, you can even take pooch along with you. Let's get our priorities straight and start by getting all our four legged friends what they wish for this Christmas at Dog and Groom. This fabulous independent boutique and groomers now has 2 locations in South West London where you can get your paws on some great toys, clothing, beds and anything else you might need. If treats are what you'd rather have in your stocking, then fear not as Dog & Groom have a great selection to suit all pooches, including raw. Why not pop along to their free Christmas Event on December 2nd to check out the goods and take advantage of some special offers. Pooches can join their humans for a whole day of retail therapy at Southside Shopping Centre in Wandsworth where four legged visitors are welcome throughout. You can also grab coffee at Black Sheep Coffee and lunch at Brewdog . Read our blog about Southside Shopping Centre for full details of all dog friendly shops within the centre. All John Lewis stores in the UK now allow doggies to accompany them whilst shopping (no size restrictions but we must be kept on a lead and carried on escalators). I got lots of attention as I was the only dog in there but I had to be carried in the busier parts of the store as human was worried I might get stepped on. The Christmas Department even has a selection of gifts for dogs so don't forget to give your list to your human. Just off Oxford Circus, you will find one of London's most iconic shops. Liberty has been here since 1875 and since 2020 has been welcoming Four Legged shoppers of all sizes. (Once again on lead at all times). We advise pooches be on their best behaviour when in Liberty as they sell some very expensive stuff. The human said I would lose all future pocket money if I damaged anything in there! Liberty is situated at one end of Carnaby Street which always has some colourful decorations to look at. Most of the shops sell clothes for humans and most of them are quite happy for pooches to pop in. Everyone loves a book for Christmas don't they? All Waterstones stores and most independent bookshops in London welcome pooches, even though we can't read! Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross has a fabulous selection of independent shops where dogs are always welcome. Check out Wolf and Badger and Earl of East for perfect Christmas gifts. It's also a great spot to get some festive photos. Our human loves smellies (probably why she loves us) for Christmas so we will be filling her stocking with gifts from Kiehl's as they love doggies to visit them. They even sell a range of toiletries for us! Anthropologie have a great selection of gifts from homewares, clothes and stocking fillers. All size dogs are welcome in all their stores.

You guessed it. It's that time of year again already! Get ahead of the shopping madness by filling up your pooches stockings with gifts from these wonderful independent UK pet businesses. The Sociable Pup Company have a whole host of festive goodies for you, including: Get ready for the holiday' Latex Dinosaur - 🎄🎁Celebrate the festive season the dinosaur way RAWR 🦖 Let it Glow' Sloth - The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year! “ Let it Glow” is perfect for playtime, anytime. Made with a super loud squeaker and tuggable rope , this toy was designed with interactive play in mind. Go, grab onto that rope and let’s see who’s stronger. Burrow - Gingerbread House - What better way to celebrate Christmas than with a festive Gingerbread House? Featuring a trio of adorable gingerbread men to dig out, your playful pup will be begging you to put them back in again and again for hours of holiday fun! It’s the perfect interactive toy for keeping your dog busy and engaged through hide-and-seek play that prevents boredom and promotes mental stimulation! Burrow - Penguin Igloo - 🐧 ❄Snowy adventures await! A cuddly colony of festive penguins are chillin’ in the Penguin Cave! Have your doggo stick their snoot in to see if they want to come out and play! 🐧❄ Once your playful pup has all the majestic penguins out, they’ll be begging you to put them back in again and again for hours of fun! It’s the perfect interactive toy for keeping your dog busy and engaged through hide-and-seek play! Holiday Antlers - 2 sizes - Cute reindeer headband is super fun yet comfortable for dogs. Headband is lightweight and includes adjustable elastic band for comfort. Miniz Festive friends - Miniz are perfect for replacing toys in Burrows or even as fun little toys for small dogs. Comes in a pack of 3. Santasaurus Christmas Dog Jumper - A wonderfully festive dog Christmas jumper with a dinosaur twist! This Christmas jumper will be sure to bring some festive fun to your dog’s Christmas walkies this year. T raditional Christmas Dog Jumper (red or green) - Introducing our Classic Reindeer and Christmas Tree Knitted Dog Jumper! Who doesn't love smellies for Christmas? Well now pooch can join in with the Muttcracker by Sniffe & Liikit . Treat them to a mutt-cracking gift of a delightful hang-on-the-tree mini giftset containing 50ml Fragrant Fur Coat Shampoo mini pack with a bonus Wippet cleansing wipe. Pooches if you smell nice, the visitors will want to cuddle you more! Pooches can join in with the festivities on the big day with their very own lunch from Caboodle . Their limited edition Christmas box includes a turkey dinner, dental chews and doggie delights treats with their own co-ordinating tin to take out on those after-dinner walks. A great gift that you can enjoy for weeks after the main event! Our friends at Bew Dogs have Christmas gifts a plenty to spoil your pooch this year. Check out their website to get your paws on: The Festive Christmas Collar , which includes a gorgeous matching bow. Crafted with love and care, this collar features a cheerful holiday design, complete with vibrant colors and adorable patterns, making your pooch the centre of attention at any Christmas gathering or event. It's not just a collar; it's a statement of holiday joy. The Holiday Burrow™ Santa’s Milk and Cookies is the perfect interactive toy for keeping your dog busy and engaged through hide-and-seek play that prevents boredom and promotes mental stimulation! Add kibble or treats for a stimulating enrichment challenge, which adds to all the fun. This interactive hide-and-seek toy comes with 1 milk carton and 3 small squeaky cookies Bew Dogs' stunning and popular Rope leads now comes in Christmas Red for the festive period - a must have accessory for all stylish hounds about town. The rope leads are long to allow for space when walking, however, thanks to the handy clip and loop system, you can double up the lead to keep your pooch closer to you when you're on a busy city walk.

Dog Friendly Shopping Centre. Southside in Wandsworth is the perfect place to take your pooch Christmas shopping. Dog friendly shopping malls are still a rare find, so we were delighted to discover there is a great one right on our doorstep, which has a great selection of dog friendly shops and eateries. Southside Shopping Centre Wandsworth. If your human is looking for some new threads, you can join them for some browsing in H&M , who also do a great range of clothing for dogs including fab Christmas jumpers! Sostrene Grene is the place to go for Christmas decorations and stocking fillers. This Scandinavian store loves pooches and they even have their own range of dog shampoo! Shopping is a thirsty business, so we recommend regular pit stops at Black Sheep Coffee . All Black Sheep Coffee shops welcome pooches and they even have puppucinos available to order on their menu! There are plenty of festive photo opportunities at Southside Shopping Centre and even a postbox to send your letter directly to Santa! If you prefer your hydration to be of the beer kind, you will be delighted to learn there is a large BrewDog in Southside. Not only can you sample their huge selection of beers, you can get a delicious lunch to reward your self for getting all your Christmas shopping done! All pooches are welcome at all BrewDog locations throughout the UK. Other dog friendly shops at Southside include: Accessorize CeX Fragrance Shop Gymnasium Kitikate Oliver Bonas Robert Dyas Starbucks

Where to go with your pooch to avoid fireworks on New Year's Eve. Dog friendly hotels in London and beyond, tried and tested by Archie and Nacho. If your idea of the perfect way to spend New Year's Eve is a comfy bed and a bowl full of treats then you will most likely be staying home for the celebrations. There's just one problem with that for us and that's fireworks! The whizz bangers are very pretty and the humans enjoy seeing them but we get a little scared of the noise and some of our friends get so scared they make themselves very sick. Our solution for the last few years has been to check into a hotel either in a quiet place where there will be no fireworks or in a London hotel which has excellent soundproofing where we can watch them but not hear them. Here's a few of our favourites where you can still book in for this NYE. Mama Shelter in Bethnal Green is a firm favourite of ours. We have stayed there a few times. As well as beds, bowls, poop bags and treats in the room, we also had a welcome message just for us, written on the bedroom mirror. We are welcome in all areas of the hotel so can also dine with the humans and there is fabulous walkies in nearby London Fields and Victoria Park. Read our Mama Shelter review for more details. Be aware that this is a very hip hotel and can get can very lively in the restaurant area at busy times, often with live music so New Year's Eve will be very loud. We stayed on a Saturday night and dined early to avoid the noisiest times. Visit Mama Shelter to book your stay. For a proper Four Legged treat, book yourselves in to nhow London near Old Street. In this most Instagrammable hotel, pooches can expect luxurious beds, bowls and unlimited treats in the room (just call room service if you run out). We are welcome to join humans in all dining areas but the best part is definitely the four legged afternoon tea. Read our nhow blog to find out more. We recommend every doggie should visit! Visit nhow London to book your stay. Sloane Place is a gorgeous hotel in the heart of Chelsea where pooches are most welcome to join their humans. The hotel has a great restaurant where dogs can dine at breakfast, lunch and dinner and in summer we are also welcome on the roof terrace restaurant and bar. The hotel is perfectly positioned for exploring the ever so dog friendly King's Road. Book your stay here . If you spent too much money at Christmas and are looking for an affordable hotel to escape the craziness of New Year's Eve, we recommend trying one of Young's pubs with rooms . We have stayed in The Alma and The Spread Eagle (both in Wandsworth) but they have around 20 dog friendly hotels in and around London. The rooms are all tastefully decorated and comfortable and of course pooches are welcome to dine in the pub. If you would rather get out of London but not too far, Cambridge is a beautiful city and you can get there by train in just over an hour from St.Pancras station. Pooches are very welcome at Hyatt Centric and Turing Locke which is just outside the city centre with a Park & Ride bus link. The hotel and apartments are next to each other and share a restaurant, coffee bar and cocktail lounge where pooches are most welcome. Rooms are spacious and bowls, beds and treats are provided. You can read our full blog here and visit Hyatt to book your stay. If you prefer more of a countryside vibe to see in the New Year, we highly recommend a stay at Bethnal & Bec. Two of the 3 retreats are dog friendly and you have access to the paddock for walkies. The garden has a fire pit and hot tub so you can sit out and watch the stars instead of fireworks. Treats, toys and blankets are provided for pooches and you can also purchase more during your stay. Read our full review of Bethnal & Bec and how to book here . For the most picturesque way to spend New Year's Eve, head to the Cotswolds and stay at The Lygon Arms in Broadway. Pooches are treated like royalty here with comfy beds (which you can keep), bowls, treats galore and a doggie menu for dinner. There is so much to explore in the area, you might need to stay for a few nights. Read our full review of our stay at The Lygon Arms and book yours here . Other Cotswold stays we recommend are The Old Bell and The Horse and Groom . If you fancy a longer getaway by the sea, Scarborough was just listed by Time Out as one of the UK's most underrated destinations. And we agree! Sure, it's a long way from London but Britain's oldest seaside resort is well worth the trip for the fabulous sandy beaches, Victorian Promenade and the wonderful Bike & Boot Inn. The hotel is so dog friendly, we are welcome in all public areas and can even get a haircut there! We stayed in summer but we bet it's just as beautiful in winter too! Bike and Boot also now have a hotel in the Peak District which has all the same dog friendly amenities. Book your stay at Bike & Boot . #dogsandfireworks #dogfriendlyhotels #londonhotels #cotswoldhotels #scarboroughhotels #westsussexhotels #newyearseve

Show your pups some love at our Valentine's event at Romeo & Juliet's Rose are red, violets are blue. If you don't love dogs, we feel sorry for you! Pooches of all shapes and sizes are welcome to join us at London's prettiest café on Sunday February 18th. Woofs and Kisses at Romeo & Juliet's will be a chance for you to show your pup just how much you love them as they join you for afternoon tea. Doggies get their very own Afternoon Tea of poke bowl, biscuits, pupcakes and puppuccino. To make sure you never forget this beautiful day, there will be oodles of photo opportunities including the chance to get a portrait of you and your dog by our official photographer Amie Barron. Amie will also be capturing all the fun of the day and all guests will have access to the full gallery after the event. Archie can't wait to share some woofs and kisses with you!

The ups and downs of life as a senior dog We'd all love to be forever young but unfortunately life has other ideas and as I approach my 14th birthday, I face a few challenges that I and my humans must adapt to. As with humans, not all dogs age in the same way but here is my journey over the last couple of years and how my humans are still making my life the best it can possibly be. Let's start with the big one. HEALTH! There are some issues we dogs will face that simply come with old age, some that are breed specific and some that are just plain bad luck. In 2021, I was diagnosed with MVD (Mitral Valve Disease) commonly referred to as heart murmur. This is a progressive disease with no cure so I have to take a pill every day which slows down the progression. Fortunately it is tasty so I'm happy to take it. My humans were happy to hear that on this drug, I should live another 3 to 4 years and my condition is regularly monitored by my vet. A common side effect of long term medication is that it can affect the liver so that also has to be regularly monitored and in 2022, my vet discovered a growth on my liver. My humans decided not to put me through any invasive treatment to discover if it was malignant but I had to start taking another pill every day. This one is not so tasty so has to be hidden in my food. After years of very few vet visits, I found myself being poked and prodded almost every month for one reason or another. In Summer 2023, I started limping and excessively licking one front paw so back to the vets I went. Lots of old people get arthritis and dogs suffer too as our bones get older but traditional pain relief for this condition would put an extra strain on my liver so I was put on a drug called Librela which is given as a monthly injection and targets pain without affecting the liver and kidneys. Thankfully it has worked for me so now I visit the vet at least once a month!! It's a good job I like him and he has a good supply of treats. Alongside the medication, my humans decided to try complementary treatments such as supplements - YuMove, Fish Oil etc and also canine massage. Luckily our friend Lucy is a Galen Myotherapist so she visited me regularly for a couple of years to help with my joints and muscles as I got older. Unfortunately as my heart condition progressed, I was advised by the vet not to continue with this. There are a number of complementary treatments a senior dog can explore such as physio, light therapy, hydrotherapy. Please get your humans to research well and find a reputable practitioner. Notes from my human on the health topic: Obviously we did not hesitate to get Archie on all the meds and treatments he needs but it does pose some challenges. Apart from the obvious one, an increase in costs, we also have to make sure he always has a good supply and that he takes them at the right time. With another dog in the home, we have to ensure that Nacho doesn't take them by mistake e.g if we drop one or if Archie leaves one behind. These concerns are elevated when we go away and someone else is responsible for his care. Now for my favourite topic. FOOD and TREATS. My reputation precedes me so you all know I'm greedy and will eat almost anything (I've always drawn the line at anything green). But as I get older, my constitution is not as hardy as it once was so the humans had to look at getting me on a suitable senior diet and one that is heart and liver healthy. The humans have always been careful about what we eat and in my (almost) 14 years on earth, the dog food industry has changed massively. Like humans, when we are younger we don't mind the occasional naughty treat or we shrug off having something that doesn't have the best ingredients as long as we don't have it often. As we get older, we need to be more careful what we eat and the human has to put on her glasses and read all the ingredients on every packet of treats and food before she gives it to me! Notes from the human on food and treats: I have always found food to be an absolute minefield. There is so much choice on the market and so many varying opinions from experts on what is best for our dogs. We all just want to do our best for our pets so it's a constant worry that we are not feeding them anything that will be detrimental to their health. Once they get older and start having health problems, it becomes even more important and I spent hours and hours researching the best food for Archie's senior years. And don't forget, the best stuff is usually also the most expensive! You may be used to seeing me sitting in pubs and restaurants but that's just a small part of my life and I have always enjoyed big walks and outdoor adventures. I may be a senior with arthritis but I still want to GET OUT FOR EXERCISE. It just means slowing down a bit and doing a bit less. When I turn 14 in April, I will be the equivalent of a 72 year-old human and you don't see many of them chasing squirrels for hours! I'm also going a bit deaf so don't always hear the humans calling me when I get a bit confused and start following the wrong people. Not long after Nacho arrived the humans thought it would be a good idea to get me a stroller because the youngster would need more exercise and I didn't want to be left out even if I couldn't keep up! As you can see, I do sometimes have to share it with the squirt. I took to the stroller immediately and now on our adventures, whenever I look tired (sometimes I lay down in the street to make it really obvious) I take a break in the stroller while Nacho and the humans keep going. It's also important that I don't get overheated, so I will spend more time in it on sunny days and the humans fit a fan to it! The photo was taken in 2021, I can no longer stand on my back legs due to my arthritis. I used to love a good run on the beach. In fact it would be the only time I would ever chase a ball. You humans will know that it's a bit heavy going on the legs to walk on sand so I now find it too much of a strain to walk on soft sand. When we visit the beach, the humans will carry me down to the sea, where the sand is harder. As you can see, I do still love a dip in the water especially on warm days. Notes from human on GETTING OUT FOR EXERCISE We were unsure about getting a stroller at first but it has turned out to be the best thing we ever bought. It means we can stay out all day if necessary and Archie can rest whenever he needs to but can still see what's going on. Managing 2 dogs with very different levels of energy can be challenging, especially if I'm on my own. I'm fortunate to have a (retired) dog groomer as a human so have never needed to visit a groomers but our human can tell you that as we dogs get older our tolerance for this decreases. Having a groom for most breeds means standing for around 2 hours in the bath and then on the grooming table. The groomers also have to do things like lift your legs and keep your head still. These are all things that can be uncomfortable for senior dogs. Tell your humans to make sure your groomer is aware of any health problems or pain before they are groomed and to ask them to give you regular breaks from standing. Notes from human on GROOMING: I've been fortunate to have been spared this cost but I obviously know how expensive it is to keep your dog or dogs well groomed. I also know how difficult a job it is! If you have a good groomer, they will always want what is best for your dog and won't mind spending a bit of extra time on your senior dog. Please take their advice about what you can do to maintain your dogs coat between grooms to make their job easier and your dog's experience better. Despite my humans constantly asking me when I'm going to start earning my keep, I still have never contributed to any of these bills they talk about. I'll leave it to the human to tell you about the rising costs of caring for a senior dog. When you pick up your puppy, the last thing that crosses your mind is what problems and costs you might be facing in 13 years time. The excitement and joy of welcoming this new member of your family should be enjoyed but as the old saying goes" A Dog is for Life" so it's worth giving this some consideration before you decide to get a dog and which breed. We are fortunate enough to be in a financial position where we have not had to hesitate to give Archie anything he needs. However, not everyone is in this position and circumstances can change many times over a 15 year period. Some vet treatments are prohibitively expensive for an average earner and we never wanted to face a dilemma where we had to decide if we could afford treatment for our dogs. That is why we have always had insurance from day 1 and have made sure it's the best possible cover. Obviously the best possible cover comes at a cost and not all families, especially in the current cost of living crisis, can afford to pay over £200 per month for insurance (our current outgoing for both dogs) and unlike car insurance, pet insurance is not a legal requirement. Archie's has risen gradually from £50 to £150 over the years. It is worth thinking about these and other costs before you get that pup but it can be difficult and confusing, especially if you've never had a dog before. That's why we recommend you check out Tesco Bank's Our Best Pets-timate to help you when considering getting a new furry friend. Tesco Bank surveyed 2,000 18+ pet owners and used their responses alongside the most pertinent and newsworthy stats research to create this guide to help pet owners better understand pet insurance and make informed decisions. Some of the stats they collated from the survey were: 44% said they didn’t have pet insurance, leaving them and their pet at risk of high vet costs. 39%  were put off by the cost but over half also said they’d had to pay a one-off vet fee, often higher than insurance. 59%  of those with pet insurance said it was worth the money, and helped them avoid hefty vet bills. According to internal Tesco Bank data, the average cost of an unexpected vet bill was £392.90 .  49% of dog owners and 36% of cat owners have cut how much they spend on their pet due to the rising cost of living. 17% of pet owners admit to not calculating the cost of getting a puppy before becoming an owner.” Tesco Bank's Our Best Pets-timate guide also provides a useful number of resources including a budget planner , 10 essential tips for first-time pet owners and how to look after your pet on a budget. I plan on enjoying my retirement by spending more time lounging around in my PJ's! It's a privilege I've earnt by providing the humans with adoration and entertainment for the last 14 years.

The Four Legged Foodies guide to Dogfest 2024 Forget Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Reading - those festivals are just too noisy and have one major flaw - they have nothing for dogs! That's where DogFest comes in! This fabulous series of festivals for dogs celebrates its 10th year in 2024 and we have been huge fans since the very first one. DogFest has grown over the 10 years and now dogs from all over the England can enjoy the show with the choice of 7 locations in Surrey, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, Cheshire, Bristol, Hertfordshire and Yorkshire. Visit DogFest to check out the dates. What we love about DogFest is that there really is something for every dog. You can get expert advice from the behaviour zone, enter one of the many fun dog shows or have a go at one of the fun activities. Our favourite is the hay bale race even though we're not very good at it! Each show has a schedule of breed meet-ups where you can find lots of dogs that look just like you and the humans can swap stories and share tips. This is particularly useful if you are the human of a naughty terrier! The breed meet up schedules are available on the DogFest website now under What's On. Many of the retailers and sponsors also have activities you can take part in. We visited Wisdom Panel to find out if Nacho was definitely a Norfolk Terrier. The vets there can take your DNA (quick mouth swab) on the day and a few days later you will receive a comprehensive report on your genetics, any possible health problems and even a list of relatives that they have on their records. Nacho is hoping to meet up with his half brother very soon. It goes without saying that our favourite part is the shopping (tell your humans to take a large bag) where you can find anything and everything your heart desires. Each show has a whole host of vendors, some of which will be local pet businesses, some larger that attend all 7 shows. There is no list of retailers on the website so our advice is to follow the #dogfest on Instagram. If you have some favourite companies, contact them directly and ask if they will be at any of the shows this year. The shows raise money for Dogs Trust and the charity also host their Dog School at the event. You can book a 15-minute group training session where you will learn some top tips and new skills, including how to make your training fun and rewarding for you and your dog! We hope you get the chance to experience DogFest in 2024 and you can get 5% off your tickets with our code! Hope to see you there! #dogfest #dogfestival #thingstodowithyourdog #dogshow #dogstrust

Join us for Woof About Southside on Sunday May 26th to celebrate this wonderful dog friendly shopping centre. Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcome to join the humans as they browse, shop or dine at Southside and many of the stores welcome four legged visitors too, including: H&M Sostrene Grene Black Sheep Coffee Brewdog Accessorize   CeX   Fragrance Shop   Gymnasium   Kitikate   Oliver Bonas   Robert Dyas   Starbucks   Woof About Southside will have a range of independent pet companies to delight your pooch. Humans can treat their best from: Gorgeous collars and leads from Bewdogs Perfect portraits and gifts from Dogsdogscatsdogs Stunning handmade collars and leads from Ipe Brazil Treats, grooming accessories, clothing and toys from Dog and Groom Stylish collars and leads from Hounds of Hammersmark Healthy doggy drinks from Pawddrinks Woof About Southside will be supporting Wild at Heart Foundation with a raffle. Prizes include: Wild at Heart T-shirts 2 course dinner for 4 with 8 cocktails at Megan's Restaurants Free consultation and crystal infused water bottle from The Holistic Vet Nurse 50% off a groom at Dog Squad London A free studio or outdoor photo session with Amie Barron Boxes of poo bags from Bew Dogs Selection of greetings cards from Dogsdogscatsdogs To enter, simply donate any amount via link below here. Woof About Southside will also have some fun FREE things for you and your dog to do. How about: Tarot/Psychic readings for you and your dog by The Wellness Foundry . Book your 15 minute session here. For the kids we have Face Painting by Diana who can make you look like your dog! You can also get grooming advice from Dog & Groom and health advice from The Holistic Vet Nurse. Dog Squad London will have treats and goodies for all pooches who stop by to say hello. Dog City App will be handing out goodies to pooches and telling you all about their dog friendly app. Award winning pet photographer Amie Barron will be bringing her pop-up studio to Woof About Southside. Your pooch can enjoy a 15 minute photo session and you will receive 1 digital image of your choice. Book your session here. We look forward to seeing you at Woof About Southside on Sunday May 26th. The activities will take place indoors by the entrance to Waitrose on ground floor and outdoors on the plaza outside Black Sheep Coffee. Southside Shopping Centre Wandsworth High St, London SW18 4TF Keep an eye on @woofabout for further updates on the event. Our Sponsors