FROM THE BLOG CONTAINS A WHOLE HOST OF TIPS ON HOW TO RAISE YOUR DOG. THE ARTICLES ARE LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WITH THE LATEST SHOWING FIRST. YOU CAN ALSO FIND THEM LISTED ON THE SPECIFIC AGE APPROPRIATE SECTIONS.
Updated in April 2024: Nestled in the hills on the Bodnant Estate in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, Ty Ucha'r Ffordd is a cosy stone cottage with fabulous views across to Snowdonia. If you’re looking for a tranquil, rural retreat for you and your dog, this is the perfect place. Along with compact but...
When I asked "How far can I walk my puppy?" of several people, I received conflicting answers. A friend kindly sent me the following image which illustrated just how long it takes for a dog's growth plates to close. This made me determined to stick to the 5 minute rule until she reached 12 months,...
Spayed females commonly mark their territory with urine, but Frankie (AKA Francesca) is a little different to most. Her marking is possessively personal and never ceases to make us smile on our walks. While Freya saunters along with prolonged sniffing, randomly leaving messages and marking...
Honestly, Freya has to be the queen of firsts. How on earth, on a cold February day, did she manage to find wet tar to trot through and arrive home with four paws coated in the treacly black stuff? Well in fairness, we do live on a new housing estate which is still part building site, but even so...
With a saving of around £50 every six weeks*, for me grooming my own cockapoo was a no brainer, however this wasn’t my initial driver. Freya has only been professionally groomed once; the groomer’s idea of a teddy cut certainly wasn’t mine and this experience was enough for me to take up the...
The Bike & Boot has stunning views across the bay if you're lucky enough to have a sea view. The Bike & Boot in Scarborough was founded by Simon Kershaw and Simon Rhatigan, well-known entrepreneurs with an impressive track record in the catering and hospitality industry. In September 2023,...
Out on walks while Freya was a few months old, I was surprised how many people told me they were spaying their female dogs before their first season. This didn't feel right; surely it was important for a puppy to at least reach puberty and be fully grown before she was catapulted into what was...
The Running Horse inn The Running Horse stands in Littleton, just on the outskirts of the beautiful cathedral city of Winchester. We visit regularly as our daughter lives nearby. The inn was completely refurbished early last year and re-opened in the summer beautifully designed to enjoy outdoor...
The Black Horse Inn in Kirkby Fleetham is nestled between the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales National Parks, so a perfect base for a dog walking holiday. 2018, saw the inn winner of the tv programme 'Four in a Bed', with the plaque heralding the award on the wall of the bar. It was also...
The Swan Hotel at Hay sits towards the end of the market town of Hay-on-Wye, on the Welsh side of the border between England and Wales, although most of the town's postcodes are Herefordshire! This lovely Georgian hotel is managed by Adrian Wilson, with the bar and restaurant open to all. Back in...