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These Seasonal Habits Could Seriously Harm Your Dog
As we venture in to that time of year when seasonal good cheer begins to manifest at the forefront of our minds, it’s worth the effort to remind ourselves of some of the hidden dangers that could turn our dog’s festive spirits decidedly sour.

Take a look at this list of things to think about over the winter holiday period as they might apply to your own circumstances. Some are hopefully things that you already know but others might just surprise you:

Food
- Too much sodium can kill animals, so if you are going to give your pet some of your leftover Christmas dinner, make sure it isn’t covered in salt or gravy.
- Chocolate is poisonous to dogs: keep your tins of chocolate covered up and don’t put up chocolate tree decorations that your dog can reach.
  Cocktail sticks can get eaten by dogs and cats and end up stuck in their throats or puncture their gut. Be careful what you serve and be careful where you keep party food and rubbish.
- Mesh that covers your roast meat is often hastily discarded after removing the joint from the oven. If it is left to lie in meat juices it can be gobbled up by cats or dogs when your back is turned. Mesh can cause severe damage to the gut and cause bloat, which is often fatal if medical attention is not sought immediately.
Decorations
- Fir trees are poisonous to cats, and cats also like to bite and eat tinsel. Cats, dogs and small mammal pets can bite through wires so be sure to tuck your Christmas tree lights away safely.
- Holly, ivy, poinsettias and mistletoe are all poisonous to pets.
General
- Always supervise dogs with children – no matter how well you think you know your dog and trust it, over-excited children plus all the changes going on in your dog’s surroundings can make even a calm dog snap.
- Many vet practices are closed over the Christmas period. Before they close, make a note of their emergency service number in case you need it urgently.
Finally, remember that there undoubtedly will be fireworks let off on New Year’s Eve at midnight in your local area. If your pet is of a nervous disposition then make sure it is kept near you so that you can offer lots of reassurance, and bring all outdoor pets inside.

Bonus: How To Create a Dog Friendly Christmas Tree

Creating a Christmas tree that is both beautiful to look at for you and unattractive to your dog is a special challenge. Here are some suggestions to keep your tree pet-friendly.

1. Tree water at the base of live trees can be harmful if preservative chemicals have been added to prolong the life of the tree. Keep your dog from drinking the water by covering the tree basin with foil or a tree skirt.

2. Place dog-safe ornaments near the bottom of the tree in case your dog decides to use the ornaments as playthings.

3. Tie up loose electrical cords of the lights used to decorate the tree and keep them concealed by attaching them with wire or cord to the trunk of the tree. End-to-end lights eliminate individual cords dangling from the tree that might entice your dog to chew them.

4. If you have lots of tree lights that are not end to end, purchase a power strip in which to plug the lights. Attach the strip to the tree trunk at a level that is higher than the height of your dog. As a result, you will have only one heavy-duty power cord running from the tree to the outlet instead of several flimsy cords from single strings of lights.

5. To prevent your dog from knocking over your holiday tree, anchor it with cord or wire to the ceiling directly above the tree’s trunk. Don’t attach it with wire to a wall behind the tree because your dog could get caught in the wire if be darts behind the tree.

6. Spray the tower branches of the tree with bitter apple, cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus, or other unappealing scents.

7. Hang your ornaments with ribbons rather than hooks to keep your dog from accidentally swallowing something that could get lodged in his throat.

8. Do not use tinsel or angel hair on your tree. Angel hair, made of glass fibre, and tinsel, made of metal, can cause internal damage if your dog swallows any.

9. Avoid decorating your tree with strings of berries or other edible ornaments – many are harmful if swallowed. The string on which they are attached can cause damage to your dog’s intestines if swallowed, and a dog, eager to get to the “treats,” could knock over the tree.

10. If you like, decorate a small, artificial tree for your dog with items he will find appealing, such as doggie biscuits and dog toys. Hide the tree until you are ready for your dog to open his presents.
November 19, 2014
UK Sees Rise in Dogs Abandoned
Research recently released have highlighted that in the last year, over two thirds (67%) of animal rescue centres in the UK have seen an increase in the number of abandoned dogs.

The research, conducted by dog adoption site DogsBlog.com and its sponsor, highlights the common causes of dog abandonment and the pressures now faced by animal rescue homes.

Highlighting the extent of the problem, almost a fifth of the rescue centres reporting an increase in the number of abandoned dogs over the past year say that the number of animals taken in by them for this reason has doubled.

Other rescues are also experiencing the strain of significant increases too. 13% say they have seen a 30% increase whilst more than one in ten rescues (12%) have seen the number of abandoned dogs rise by a quarter.

Also concerning is that almost three quarters of animal rescues which have seen an increase in abandonment say that the number of dogs coming to them as a direct result of owner negligence has risen since 2013. A third state that they had taken the same number of dogs in as they did last year and none of the centres reported seeing an improvement.

Bobbie, pictured above, is looking for a new home. Click her image to find out more

According to further findings from the research, over half (56%) of UK rescue centres believe that the main reasons for dog abandonment is due to a lack of education about dog ownership. Other prevalent reasons include a reluctance of owners to work through their dogs problems (50%) such as training issues once their dog comes home and dogs being abandoned due to owners being unable to manage the costs of keeping them (11%).

Other common reasons for dogs being taken in by rescue centres include:
- Lack of nourishment – is to blame for almost one third (29%) of dogs being taken in.
- Failure to treat pets’ health problems is another cause for concern for almost one third (29%) of rescue centres.
- Abuse – over one tenth of rescue centres (12%) stated that dogs end up in their care following reports of abuse.
Ryan O’Meara, co-founder of the adoption site DogsBlog.com said: “The statistics we uncovered in our latest research show worrying trends. The continual rise of dogs being abandoned is, sadly, something we and the hundreds of rescues across the country have gotten used to. But the rising trends of dogs coming into rescue after being mistreated is something we shouldn’t get used to. “We hope we can not only debunk the myths about dogs in rescues being damaged goods, but help to educate new and would be dog owners on the responsibilities of bringing a dog into the family.”
November 19, 2014
A Dog Owner’s Review: The Gtech AirRam K9

After our Spring review of the Gtech AirRam vacuum cleaner, I was excited to review the newer model enhanced and updated with dog owners in mind and find out what was new.

I was a big fan of the original AirRam, the cordless element combined with the power was a revelation to me as a dog owner. It made cleaning so much easier and with two dogs at home, working full time and the hours seeming to fly by, anything which makes a job such as vacuuming easier has to be applauded, right?

Today, seeking a distraction from wondering how Mia was getting on at the vets while having an operation, I started my normal distraction routine.

1) Work – doing the essentials.
2) Washing all dog beds. In a house where dog beds are regularly reviewed this is a job and a half.
3) Bleaching floors.
4) Vacuuming every inch of the house – giving me the chance to tick off no 1 and no 4 on the list, perfect!

A Dog Owner’s Review of: Gtech AirRam K9

Price: £249

Pros:

Cordless and lightweight, it makes light work of housework making it easy for daily use. Great suction and pet hairs pick up, one of the updates to this model was designed to strengthen its performance in this area (more about this below).

Energy efficient with the battery life easily visible and displayed with LED lighting on the front, it gives 40 minutes of run time when charged. Gtech says its energy efficient design means you can clean your home twice on one 4-hour charge, running for up to 40 minutes; a 1-hour short charge will deliver a burst of additional run time.

Cons:

Time will tell whether the approximately £50 price difference between the AirRam K9 (£249) and AirRam (£199) are noticeable. So far I think the update to the brush bars making them easier to pick up those pet hairs which just won’t move will prove worthy of the extra outlay, but this really is an individual choice as to whether the extra cost is worth it to you if you were picking between the two cleaners.

Summary:

Being a huge fan of the original cordless model, this was always going to have a lot to live up to but keeping the main benefits of the original it was off to a flying start!

When I began reviewing I did so blind in as much as I didn’t read what the changes were beforehand so my judgement wouldn’t be clouded. Although slightly heavier than the AirRam, the AirRam K9 really does makes light work of housework.

Mia and our newest addition, Christopher, are both black-coated dogs and with cream carpets throughout the home any and all shedding is easily noticed – no room for a day’s rest in this house!

The biggest updates I noticed came in the form of the sound – whereas the AirRam is quite high pitched, the AirRam K9 sounds lower and in fact Christopher, aged only eight-weeks old, didn’t even move when I approached – although he did wake up. And secondly, I noticed the fresh scent which is released when cleaning. The scented filters are refillable and this really is a great touch.

Another update has been made with pet hairs in mind. Strengthened by zinc alloy components, the AirRam K9 has upgraded brush bars which help to reduce the build up of stubborn pet hair.

Suitable for use on all floor types, the style of the cleaner means it easily fits under sofas, tables, radiators and right up to the skirting boards.

The volume of dirt and hairs this cleaner collects constantly amazes me, I can’t believe so much dust and hair can be accumulated in one day but am relieved I have something which gets rid of it.

Out of all of the vacuum cleaners I’ve reviewed over the years, the Gtech AirRam and AirRam K9 are in my all time top two favourites for performance, ability, easiness of use and all-round convenience – thank you Gtech. Update: Gtech have now released a newer model, the AirRam K9 2 – read how the original compares to the newer model here: http://www.k9magazine.com/new-gtech-airram-k9-review-is-it-better-than-its-predecessor-at-tackling-pet-hairs/

Want To Try The Gtech AirRam K9 For Yourself?
Find Out More

November 17, 2014
Dogs Work Together For Amazing Pay Off

Just how badly do these two dogs want to succeed?

Incredible display of canine teamwork.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C2y86qHYcs

November 11, 2014
Happy Birthday Churchill, says lookalike

Adorable bulldog Frodo, who looks just like the Churchill mascot, joins his idol to celebrate the anniversary of Churchill Insurance.

Can you tell which is which?

October 24, 2014
Win a Pet Friendly Break in Wiltshire for Two!

To celebrate the release of K9 Magazine’s latest edition, we’re giving readers the chance to enter a competition to win a weekend break at a pet friendly hotel in Wiltshire for them and their dog.

The BEST WESTERN Mayfield House Hotel, near Malmesbury, is set amidst beautiful countryside in the Avon Valley, and this month K9 Magazine are delighted to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a weekend break for two adults (and one dog) to review their pet friendly break in K9 Magazine.

A small Cotswolds hotel, this delightful retreat gives guests the opportunity to spend some quality time with their canine companion on the quieter west side of the Cotswold Water Park.

To find out more and enter, all you have to do is visit Freepetstuff.co.uk and comment on the post with why you’d most like to win and we’ll announce the winner next month.

October 17, 2014
Download The Latest Edition of K9 Magazine for Your Tablet!

K9 Magazine’s latest edition is now out and available to download in either a flash or tablet friendly edition.

Make sure you catch all the latest news, reviews and features by downloading today.

All you have to do is click here and choose which edition you’d like before downloading to give yourself a weekend treat.

Go on, you know you want to!

Once you’ve read, we’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on what you liked or what you’d like to see more of – we love hearing from you.

October 17, 2014
Take That’s Howard Donald Donates Iconic Jacket to His Local RSPCA Branch

Take That star Howard Donald has generously donated the iconic jacket he wore during the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony to raise funds for his local RSPCA branch.

The Never Forget singer heard about how RSPCA Macclesfield, South East Cheshire and Buxton Branch is running low on funds and decided to help out by auctioning off a Saville Row jacket he wore during the historic stage show on eBay.

The jacket – which in its first two days received bids of almost £600 – is up for grabs by fans until October 15.

Branch Re-homing Co-ordinator volunteer Carmen Cole said: “Our RSPCA branch is experiencing a financial crisis and one of our wonderful cat fosterers is friends with Howard. When he heard of our appeal for funds he kindly donated his jacket that he wore at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.

“We are absolutely delighted and so grateful to Howard for his support and kind donation and we are hoping the eBay auction will give us a much needed boost in funds.

“Sadly the costs of taking in animals that need our help is rising and as a branch we are responsible for our own fundraising.

“We rely mainly on volunteer fosterers who rehabilitate and assess our animals so that they are ready for finding their forever homes with loving new families.

“We are working tirelessly to try to raise the funds that are needed for vet bills and other costs that occur on a daily basis but this will give us a much needed boost.”

To make a bid on Howard’s Olympic jacket in aid of RSPCA Macclesfield, South East Cheshire and Buxton Branch please visit http://ebay.eu/1Eok7fv

Or to make a donation directly to the branch please visit http://www.rspca-macclesfield.org.uk/how-you-can-help/donate/ or text RESQ12 and the amount you would like to donate to 70070.

October 10, 2014
National Dog Adoption Month 2014 Launches

National Dog Adoption Month is running this month and to mark the start of the month long campaign, DogsBlog.com has revealed the top 10 celebrities to bring an adopted dog into their homes.

Read our countdown online at the Daily Express who have kindly supported the launch of the campaign.

Throughout October, and beyond, National Dog Adoption Month hopes to encourage more people to visit DogsBlog.com and consider adopting a dog, while also debunking the myths surrounding dogs in rescues.

With over 6,000 dogs now waiting to be re-homed in rescue centres across the UK, the perfect dog for you is most likely sitting in a rescue centre waiting for you to find them.

Snowy, pictured here, is looking for a new home – find out more @ http://www.dogsblog.com/snowy-36/

National Dog Adoption Month runs until October 31st and is aimed at raising the profile of dog adoption by increasing the awareness of the many rescue dogs across the UK in need of a home.

Kim O’Meara, co-founder of the UK dog adoption site DogsBlog.com said:

“Throughout National Dog Adoption Month we hope to debunk the myths about rescue dogs being all damaged goods. Most dogs end up in care through no fault of their own and there are thousands up and down the country sitting, waiting and hoping for a home to call their own.”

To get involved and help spread the word visit the National Dog Adoption Month site (www.dogadoptionmonth.org) – please share how you’ve helped, we’d love to hear from you and see your links and photographs!

October 3, 2014
World Animal Day 2014 – How YOU Can Help!

Start the Countdown – World Animal Day is only hours away – join hands with everyone who cares about animals – the animals are worth it!

We might speak different languages, walk different paths, come from different places, but the hearts of those who love and care about animals will always beat as one.

It might be too late to organise a large event, but there are lots of things you can do to help make a difference that will take next to no time to organise. Whether you choose to skydive 10,000 feet for your furry friends, organise a tea party, or raise awareness about animal welfare issues, every single action will bring us a step closer to achieving our main goal: to improve animal welfare standards worldwide through the support and involvement of individuals, groups and organisations. http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/?ptype=post_event

During the event, take lots of pictures and tell the world how it went by updating the website information with a short report and lots of fabulous images. Get the local media involved – let them know your plans.

Or you can celebrate it in your own way and make a World Animal Day pledge. Why not collect pledges from your friends, family and colleagues, then email us info@worldanimalday.org.uk so we can add the pledges to the website Pledge Board – http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/pledge-board-2/

Why not take the World Animal Day challenge – http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/ifeel-invites-connect-animal-world-animal-day/ and don’t forget to share your experience on social media (what you did and what it meant to you) in words, pictures or video with the #worldanimalday

Find support and inspiration on the World Animal Day website – http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/involved/

Get in touch with one of our Ambassadors – We now have 85 World Animal Day Ambassadors representing 71 countries around the world, all of whom are working hard to raise awareness and increase participation in this special day – http://www.worlda nimalday.org.uk/ambassadors

Help make social media BUZZ about this very special day and the amazing activities that are happening around the globe in celebration of the animals.

World Animal Day is a project that goes beyond the name of an organisation, a country or even an animal welfare topic – it’s a global initiative to end animal cruelty.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to help make animal welfare issues front page news around the globe – a vital catalyst for change! Through increased awareness and education we can help create a new culture of respect and sensitivity, to make this world a fairer place for all living creatures.

Please celebrate the wonderful animals with whom we share this planet by doing something special in honour of World Animal Day, Saturday 4 October 2014.

October 1, 2014
How Does Your Dog Eat His Food?

An oldie but a goodie to start the week – has your dog ever dined at your table? We bet they’ve asked!

Two Dogs Dining from EBD Teacher on Vimeo.

Has your dog ever tried to get up at the table while you’ve sat down to eat? Let us know and share your photos on Twitter @K9Magazine – we’d love to hear from you!

Take the Butcher’s 10-Day Taste Challenge
…your dog will love you for it!

At Butcher’s Pet Care, we believe dogs will enjoy their dinner so much more when they are served one of our mouth-wateringly meaty meals.

Why? Because every dinnertime, you’ll be giving your dog a tasty meal made with fresh meat, no artificial flavourings and natural ingredients – guaranteed to get them licking their lips.

Each delicious recipe has been developed with leading nutritionists so you can be sure your dog is getting all of the meaty proteins, vitamins and minerals they need to be as Fit as a Butcher’s Dog™.

What’s more, there are no artificial flavourings and no fillers such as soya or wheat, so they are gluten free too. An appetising bowl of Butcher’s has everything that your dog needs and nothing it doesn’t!

For more information on the 10-Day Taste Challenge and Butcher’s Pet Care, like our Facebook page – or click the button below to visit our website.

September 30, 2014
When ‘Cute’ Becomes Cruel

Wrinkly dogs often elicit a more emotional response from observers.

Cute. Aren’t they?

There is a problem with wrinkles. Wrinkles are, in essence, excessive skin. That’s bad. Excessive means exactly what it sounds like it means. Too much. Not needed. Shouldn’t be there.

Add that to a combination of a dog bred with exaggerated traits and you get, well, something like this…

What have we done?

Seriously.

September 25, 2014
Is This the Ultimate Dog Tease?

What’s that? You were imagining how a conversation between you and your dog about his favourite foods would go (without giving him any)? You were wondering what he might be thinking? What he might want to say to you about such a jolly prank?

Ultimate Dog Tease from Citizen Brooklyn on Vimeo.

How do you tease your dog? Has it ever backfired on you? Let us know, we’d love to hear your funny dog tales!

Take the Butcher’s 10-Day Taste Challenge
…your dog will love you for it!

At Butcher’s Pet Care, we believe dogs will enjoy their dinner so much more when they are served one of our mouth-wateringly meaty meals.

Why? Because every dinnertime, you’ll be giving your dog a tasty meal made with fresh meat, no artificial flavourings and natural ingredients – guaranteed to get them licking their lips.

Each delicious recipe has been developed with leading nutritionists so you can be sure your dog is getting all of the meaty proteins, vitamins and minerals they need to be as Fit as a Butcher’s Dog™.

What’s more, there are no artificial flavourings and no fillers such as soya or wheat, so they are gluten free too. An appetising bowl of Butcher’s has everything that your dog needs and nothing it doesn’t!

For more information on the 10-Day Taste Challenge and Butcher’s Pet Care, like our Facebook page – or click the button below to visit our website.

September 22, 2014
14 of THE Best Dog Videos on Vine

If you’re looking for a reason to sit down and watch some funny dog videos, let us give you the perfect excuse because we’ve gathered 14 of what we think are the best dog videos on Vine!

Let us know which is your favourite…

1. The dog who loves balloons.

2. The dog who can’t get enough of the park.

3. The dog who hasn’t quite worked out how glass works.

4. The dog who’s learnt to play dead using finger guns.

5. The dog who’s learnt the ultimate in self-control.

6. The dog who’s addicted to watching dog videos.

7. The puppy who’s just learning how hiding under a blanket works.

8. The dog who can’t get enough of his tennis balls.

9. The helpful dog.

10. The dog who can’t get enough of his favourite game!

11. The dog who loves the garden hose!

12. The dog who’ll seek if you hide!

13. The odd couple.

14. The dog who loves to make an entrance.

So, which is your favourite? Let us know and if you’ve found a video you just can’t get enough of share it below – we’d love to hear from you!

September 22, 2014
The Fundamental Questions Your Dog Wants to Ask You

If dogs could talk, they’d have some questions for us.

Questions like these…

September 19, 2014