Dog Care

December is here and Christmas is on the way! Amongst the excitement of decorating, wrapping presents and preparing food,It is important to consider the needs of our four legged friends. The festive season is one of the most precarious for dog owners, there are dangers hidden everywhere from plants to common festive foods. To keep your dog safe this Christmas, we have a few helpful suggestions on what to avoid! Festive food and drink Chocolate : The number one poison that dogs come a

Posted On: 07/12/2017

Arthritis is extremely common in dogs, as much as it is in humans. It is a painful condition that affects the joints and can stop them from doing the things like they used to. With a little help though, we can help our canine friends enjoy life even while living with the condition. As the temperature drops, the cold weather can exacerbate painful joints. It is something you will notice more when they stand up after a sleep and they appear stiff, or get up in the morning, or are more reluctant to

Posted On: 07/11/2017

It is one of the main weekend for fireworks again this week (Aside from New Year). Whether people attend organised displays or are hosting parties in their own back gardens, it will be hard for your dog to escape from the noise. For some dogs, it is just a run of the mill day like any other, but some dogs can become highly distressed and panic. Unlike one off noises, fireworks last a long time and are erractic, loud and high pitched, causing up to 45% of the UK's pets to become worried.

Posted On: 02/11/2017

“Doggie Daycare” where you bring your dogs to play for the day is rising in popularity - it has seen a huge rise in availability in the past couple of years, perhaps as a combination of us working longer hours and acknowledgement that our dogs do not like to be left alone for long periods.. For anyone who doesn't know, it gives your pooch a chance to make pals with others at a home or centr just for them. For years, we have been leaving our dogs at home while we go out, so is thi

Posted On: 15/10/2017

As our canine friends get older, their needs start to change. They start to slow down a little bit, their diet may need adjusting, and you may find that they sleep for just that little bit longer. You will probably also notice them moving slower, but all of this doesn’t mean that they don’t need as much exercise anymore. Older dogs still need to get up and move, but with a little adjustment, you can make it easy and comfortable for them. Both physical and mental stimulation is key

Posted On: 27/09/2017

We would love to be able to take our dogs with us wherever we went, but unfortunately that is not the case! Sometimes we will have to leave our friends at home while we go out and unfortunately some dogs will experience separation anxiety when we do. Separation anxiety can vary in the levels at which a dog will experience distress, some dogs are happy to be left alone for short periods, whereas others may not wish to be left for any period of time and will howl and cry. As owners, we do our very

Posted On: 31/08/2017

There are an increasing number of older pets within the UK. Dogs are living much longer through to improvements in veterinary science, nutrition and home comforts, Many of our older dogs still have plenty of life in them, but they may have special considerations that are required to keep their senior years happy and healthy ones. Signs of getting older One of the factors that affect the rate at which our dogs age is their size. Giant breeds, like Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes, tend to g

Posted On: 07/08/2017

Body condition scoring is a way that vets, owners and animal care professionals can assess a dog’s health.Taking into account the dog’s weight and its body shape, it is a visual representation of your dog's physical condition. A body condition score quickly determines that a dog is healthy, and it is often required by pet insurers nowadays. It is important to keep a record of how body condition score changes over time as this can show you quickly if you dog is gaining , or losing

Posted On: 07/08/2017

Over the last couple of weeks, we have noticed the temperature has been up and down. This week is forecast to reach highs that we, with mod cons such as air conditioning, could find unpleasantly hot in the UK, so imagine what it must be like for our four legged friends. As responsible dog owners, we know Barker & Barker dog lovers are considerate and caring when it comes to managing their dog's health and hydration during spells of hot weather, but it is always a good idea to refresh our

Posted On: 11/06/2017

Brushing your dogs’ teeth can be a challenge for many owners, but oral hygiene is actually an important issue for your pets as well as yourself. We don’t expect bad breath from our fellow humans so why are we so accepting of it from our canine companions? Dental disease is painful for your pet, and for your piggy bank, although this may not be your primary concern at the time. The best method is prevention so it’s best to start learning about how dental disease occurs from t

Posted On: 22/02/2017