Uffington Snow Covered Horse

Yesterday, very excitingly, we went on our first monthly dog adventure! For this excursion we drove to the White Horse at Uffington, a stylised prehistoric figure formed of trenches filled in with chalk. We were blessed with a beautifully sunny day and a car full of five lovely (and extremely keen) dogs. The countryside leading up to White Horse Hill was gorgeous, and as we drew closer we were sure the horse would be visible any moment, actually should be right here…? True to Woof + Whistle form we , and of course the patches of snow still dotted around were covering the ancient monument!

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Obviously our band of blonde dogs did not care or notice the lack of a horse one bit, and were simply overjoyed to be running around exploring new turf. They also seemed very taken with something which Oxford lacks; the hills! As we trudged up and slid down the hill fort, the doggys ran literal rings around us, with Pepe on the lead sometimes helping to pull us up, but more often nearly pulling us over. Our reward upon reaching the top was to be immediately battered by the wind, as well as a gorgeous view across the countryside. 

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Most importantly, everyone clearly had a fun time, so we're calling the first Woof + Whistle dog excursion a total triumph! Keep an eye on your inbox for Tail Mail (our monthly newsletter), with details of April's adventure location, or enter your email below to subscribe.

Wags from Woof + Whistle!

Testing Tractive

In the wake of the Beast from the East, we have had the absolute pleasure of a few warmer spring days this week. Perfect for a test run of the new Tractive GPS tracker. We chose Chester as our test doggy this time, mainly because he does love to pose for a photograph.

The tracker itself is relatively small, only weighing 35 grams, and clips onto a collar (for speed we attached it to a second collar, then popped it onto Chester at the beginning of the walk). It survived the usual hurtling across fields and rolling on grass that our dogs enjoy, and emerged from a swift dip in stream completely unscathed. Chester seemed completely oblivious to it, which was a plus! He had a beautifully sunny (but windy) walk, with lots of bounding about and some rough and tumble with Bear, Monty, Poppy, and Paddy. 

Probably the most testing part of the experience was us attempting to use the phone App. The live tracking actually worked remarkably well, it was quick to find itself and did appear to update every few seconds as claimed. We even managed to get a little pink squiggly line showing Chester running around in circles. The GPS seems to have good resolution, enough to track a detailed route even within a small area. However it didn’t keep drawing the route after about 10 mins of the walk, and only the live tracking (the blue paw-print marker) kept going for the hour. I think this was 100% down to user error though…

All of our dogs actually have really great recall and don’t tend go out of sight. However we can never be sure that one won’t get stuck somewhere, or run off chasing after a deer. The live location information will put our minds at ease, making us prepared should the unthinkable happen! Next time we will track the whole walk, so keep an eye on the blog for updates!

P.S Always remember to switch your tracking device off after a walk to avoid mapping yourself!! 

Frequently asked questions about dog walking!

Friends and dog owners for whom I work often seek my advice about walking their dogs. I find most of the answers are a matter of common sense but here is a selection of some of the questions which I am asked most often.

Q   Is it always safe to let my dog meet other dogs when we are out walking?

A Try to read the signals from the approaching dog and its owner as you approach. If the dog is wagging its tail and / or looks submissive, then a meeting should be fine. If the dog is snarling or growling and has its hackles up and certainly if it is wearing a muzzle, it is best to keep your dog close to you and steer away. Do not read anything into ordinary  barking; that may be a sign of unfriendliness but it might be just the opposite.

Q Is it good for dogs to be given treats?

A Treats in moderation are a perfectly acceptable way to reward your dog for good behaviour but try to be consistent over this. If your dog spends part of its time in a cage, it may be good to give it a treat then as this provides reinforcement that being confined can be a positive experience and not associated with your leaving.

Q What is the most effective way of cleaning my dog's paws before we go into our house?

A Dogs' paws are extremely sensitive so great care should be taken when you are cleaning them. A bucket of luke warm water and a sponge does the trick; on no account use very hot water or a hose. If you stand beside your dog and support its body with your leg while you are cleaning, that increases the dog's confidence.

Q Is it safe to walk across a field with cows in it and, if so, should I keep my dog on the lead?

A Cows are unpredictable in their behaviour and have been known to charge at dogs and walkers, causing injury or worse. Avoid walking through a herd of cows, especially if there are calves present as their mothers will be extremely protective. If cows are nearby, the best advice is to put your dog on the lead and keep a very safe distance.

I hope these pieces of advice may be helpful.  I have received many more questions so will return to these in a future blog.

Crufts and Scrufts

In March I went to Crufts for the first time and it was an amazing experience. For a start it was on a scale I simply had not expected. The venue was vast; in addition to the main hall which was very smart and extremely green, there were areas where hundreds of stalls were selling everything imaginable in the canine world; even the programme was A3 size and over 120 pages. It was an event of high quality in every aspect.

The competitions were at an unbelievably high standard, especially the Agility competition where highly trained sheepdogs were running through and over obstacles with extraordinary precision and speed. It was interesting to see that certain breeds of dog seem to share characteristics: retrievers were laid back while collies seemed to be hyperactive. The dogs and their owners spend endless hours together to the point where their facial expressions and their physical stances appear to be the same. Pugs always seemed to belong to stocky owners while well built athletic men owned labradors and ridgebacks; it was easy to see who was with who. The whole show was fascinating, highly organised and very impressive.

By way of a contrast in mid-June I found myself in a sloping, muddy field in the village of Wolvercote on the outskirts of Oxford for a rather different affair. The atmosphere was one of an informal village fete; children were running free; there was no dress code or programme; it was all very informal and relaxed. However there were keenly contested competitions for many dogs to select the scruffiest of them, the one with the most appealing eyes, the best behaved and the most accomplished ball catcher! That last competition was won by a very versatile scotty who should certainly be in the England cricket team! People and dogs just drifted around meeting each other and it was a very happy occasion.

Crufts and Scrufts seem like totally different worlds for dogs and their owners but in fact the two events had many similarities. All the dog owners at both events were extremely proud of their dogs and definitely thought they were the best in show! There was hugely generous applause for all the dogs, even when they didn't get things quite right; the dogs then felt they had done well. And quite simply both occasions showed so clearly our deep love for our dogs and our wanting to celebrate them, their characters and their achievements. 

Dogs really are the most loyal friends

We are always being told that dogs are very loyal friends  --  and they are. Mind you, I am not sure why all the stories told to illustrate this seem to have a man as the owner; I suppose it's all part of the ' one man and his dog syndrome '. I look after dogs for many women owners and I can see that the bond of loyalty there is every bit as strong as the usual male examples.

Nevertheless the stories  --  and they are remarkable  --  have taken their lead from the famous Greyfriars Bobby, the Skye Terrier whose owner John Grey died in Edinburgh in the late nineteenth century. For the rest of his life  --  all fourteen years of it  --  Bobby sat devotedly beside his master's grave.

There are many similar stories set in many parts of the world, especially Australia where Scruff [ such a popular dog's name, even on The Archers! ] could not bear his master going away to war in the 1940s, ran away from wherever he was sent to sit in the road, many miles away, outside his old house waiting for his master, who was missing, presumed dead, used to live. The story had a happy ending as, several years later, Scruff, now dishevelled and semi-wild, was still there when he heard the familiar whistle of his best friend as he came down the road.

In the town of Thame in Oxfordshire there is a little known story of canine loyalty recorded on a plaque on a bench at the far end of the high street. It reads:

For Kim, a faithful Airedale, who died with his master in a fire 6-1-74 rather than escape, but whose barking saved a human life and also that of his best friend, an Irish Terrier.

What a sad but heartwarming and unique story that dog should have saved the life of his own best canine friend.

In my professional life as a dog walker I have about thirty dog friends and feel that I have a bond of trust and respect with them all. But I know that their special loyalty will be reserved for those who share every day of their lives with them, just as I have a completely special understanding with my own lovely golden retriever, Poppy.

Dog Walking in the Modern Age

Taking your dog for a walk used to be so simple. You put on your coat and your wellies; you made sure he or she had a collar on; you attached a lead to that collar; you left the world behind and off you went.

It's very different nowadays. First, it's obligatory to take your phone with you, just in case anything exciting happens in the world that just can't wait. Mind you, I strongly believe that those of us who are professional dog walkers should not answer or make calls on our mobiles while we are actually doing our job; otherwise it's an insult to our customer  --  that is of course the dog  --  who is entitled to our undivided attention.

Then there's the question of what to wear. Shall I put on my dalmatian style leggings today or my T shirt emblazoned with ' A dog is not just for June 17th ' [ I don't know why June 17th but that gets people thinking ] and shall I take my highly decorated designer whistle?

Then there's my dog. Shall it be the frilly or the tartan collar? Would he or she like a glorious technicolour bandana? And how about those special treats  --  the chews in the shape of a solid gold mini-drinking bowl?

There are so many choices and some excellent firms to cater for our every need, wish and whim. But sometimes at least, when we're not too worried about what the rest of the world thinks, I'll put on my wellies; Poppy will need her ten year old red collar and we'll just stride out across Port Meadow without a care in the world.

Because they're worth it

Houndsworthy is an online dog lifestyle shop that has been voted best dog lifestyle company on the planet. They sell everything that a dog could need to look and feel tip top from essentials like collars and leads to bandanas and jumpers.

Dogs are very special beings and real friends to so many of us. So, why shouldn't we want to the best for them, especially as, if you learn to communicate effectively with your dog, he or she will really appreciate a bit of extra care an attention?

It isn't just human beings who like to receive a little generosity and feel good as a result!

Source: http://www.houndworthy.com