Burgess Pet Care

The team consisted of Rusky and Storm at the front and Shanta and Oska behind.   We started off well onto a very narrow path and the lead boys had to look hard to see the turn.  At the next turn again the lead boys had to look hard to see this but this time went past by about six feet and so I had to slam the brakes on.   We put ourselves back on track and then had a smooth run until we came to a very open cross roads.  I called the next left turn nice and early but Rusky and Storm decided that we should go the way they wanted to go, and again we had a bit of a moment sorting ourselves out.    The best of all moments was when we were going flat out down a slight hill and needed to turn right but went straight up the bank in front of us, wiping out the lady marshall standing there.  Again we sorted outselves out and carried on and had an incident free run to the finish line.  

We covered 3.2 miles in 17.25 minutes at 11.03 mph average and came fifth in our class.    This result gave us a final championship placing of 10 out of 21 in the ABSA four dog class.  I am very happy with this result as we only did half of the season and we are building on the teams fitness and who can run in the lead position, which is very demanding.

Mike the musher, Ali the handler, Skye, Diesel, Rusky, Shanta, Oska, Storm and Polly

It’s Steph here giving you the latest update of the adventures (and mainly mischief ) Codi has been involved in this week. It’s been a busy week for Codi with plenty of exercise (and we all know what plenty of exercise means a hungry dog) and what better way to get a husky exercising? Dog scootering! And it’s not only fun for the Codi, but for the rider too!

Codi is bursting with energy and he loves to run and pull, and dog scootering is the perfect sport for him. Codi is harnessed onto the scooter, this makes him work harder than with just a standard lead, this gives him more freedom which is always good to see, and it’s great that we don’t have to control him by tugging on the lead.

How we Introduced Codi to Scootering

The first time we introduced the scooter to Codi was after he was 1 and when he was in his prime. Firstly it was important for us as the owners to get used to how the scooter rides and to generally get a feel for it so we were confident enough to ride. Then we began with the small steps to get Codi used to it, we then started with small trips and we found that someone running beside him really encourage him to get running. He loved his first lesson!

Now, It takes no encouragement at all, he’s like PRO

So as a special treat we decided to take Codi to the Trans Pennine Trail this weekend, the long and straight paths are a perfect location. We fitted his harness (after 5 minutes of an over excited jumping Codi, we managed to calm him down) we were ready to go, and after a few backwards looks from Codi as if to say “Come on! What are we waiting for” my dad let out a great big “Hike” and in a split second he was off bombing down the path like a lightning bolt. It was fantastic to see him run so fast, and so free. Huskies love working in teams but seeing Codi pulling my dad along really did show the bond between a man and his dog.

When Codi got home he tucked into a nice bowl of his new favourite dog food, Burgess Supadog -Scottish Salmon and Rice and accompanied by a big bowl of water, I can safely say he was one tired Dog!

Last week I introduced you to Codi my blue eyed stunner of a Siberian Husky. His favourite things in the world are long walks and big cuddles. He’s not allowed on the sofa but when he jumps and places his head on my lap, it’s easy to resist giving him a telling off. He also loves it when his thick and shiny coat gets a good brushing, and will quite happily lay there for hours on end getting pampered.

We think he is beautiful but he does have one slight drawback… flatulence! Codi’s wind problem sometimes can clear a room! I mentioned this to a colleague recently and they suggested I give Supadog Sensitive a try. So we did…

We were excited to see what Codi (and his extremely high standards) thought of it and before we could even manage to open the bag Codi was sniffing around at the scent he’d picked up.

We started Codi off on the Scottish Salmon and Rice by mixing a small amount into the food that he was already on. It’s important to make a gradual transaction to avoid any stomach upset. Before we managed to get the Supadog kibble into the original dog food Codi had his nose in the bowl, he loved the smell and the taste and literally couldn’t wait!

We are now looking forward to see the physical change in Codi after a few months of changing to Supadog Sensitive, and we hope that Codi continues to stay happy with this food. We also hope it can help cure some of his smellier moments!

The Vitamins and nutrients are guaranteed to improve his overall wellbeing, which is great for us as dog owners as well as Codi, We look forward to giving his lovelier, shinier and healthier coat a regular and good grooming!

Polaris Sled Dogs has now grown to 7 with the arrival of 10 week old Polly, a rescue girl, red in colour with two blue eyes.   In her short life Polly has already had 2 homes, the last one in a flat where the central heating was on constantly, and when she wasn’t needed she would be locked away in a room on her own.  The social services removed Polly and the next step was a text from a friend of mine saying that he had a Husky who needed re-homing immediately. 

Rusky, the pack leader, has taken Polly under his wing and looks after her.  All the other oldies love her but the other pups. Oska and Storm, enjoy supervised play with Polly as they are just a little rough for her at the moment.

Polly is now doing well, has settled in superbly and loves life with the pack.  We have two more races left this season and Polly will be coming along to those with the rest of the family.

Hi, my name is Steph, and I’m the latest member of the Burgess Pet Care online marketing team.  I’m a huge animal lover and the proud owner of a 5 year old Siberian husky named Codi.  Siberian huskies’ are renowned for their huge personalities and Codi is no exception. He spends a large amount of time playing (most of the time getting up to mischief) being groomed (Oh! to have the life of a dog!) and begging for dog treats. Puppy dog eyes are surely familiar to anyone who owns a dog!

Making a Dog a new addition the family wasn’t a decision that could be made over night, as there are so many things that we needed to take into consideration first. For example, would we able to give the dog plenty of exercise? Could we figure out a schedule around our working lives so that the dog wouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time? We knew from past experience that a new dog would need time to settle in to our home and we wanted to ensure the experience was completely stress-free.  Fortunately for my family there is someone at home during the day, so we could be confident that our new four legged friend would not be left for prolonged periods of time.

After a lot of planning we decided that we wanted to rescue a Siberian husky, as there are many huskies that are abandoned or given away because people don’t realise how much hard work goes into looking after them. As a family we are very familiar with dogs and felt confident that this breed was right for us.

Huskies like being part of a pack and this is what we love about this particular breed of dog; being part of the pack means being part of the family. Huskies need loads of exercise as they are big dogs but this is fine because all of my family are extremely active and love going on long walks and runs all over Yorkshire. This ensures that we have plenty of time and energy as a family to exercise such a high maintenance dog.

After doing our research into the huskie’s behaviour we discovered that they make ‘scrapes’ which are shallow holes that they dig in the wild to keep themselves warm. We had to prepare ourselves for Codi doing this in our garden, so we expected holes to be dug out all over the place! We also had to take into consideration the cost of owning such a breed; we wanted to get him micro chipped and had to think about the cost of vets bills, food, toys and grooming.

When we rescued Codi he was just over a year old, and he was quite a reserved and quiet dog. We expected it to take quite a while for him settle into our family, but it was surprising that it only took a few days for him to feel comfortable. Before long we had a content and happy companion.

Codi has been with us for four years now and is a real part of the family. We get up to some fantastic adventures and every week I will update you with some of the highlights.

So for this week “Goodbye” from myself and Codi!

We all know what day of the year is quickly approaching… Valentine’s Day is the 1 day of the year where you can really show your loved ones how much you care. For singletons it could be the perfect day to meet the love of your life.

Can the love of dogs help you find your perfect partner?

We all know that Dogs are a man’s best friend, but is it possible for them to play the Cupid role as well? If you’re single and ready to mingle, why not grab your four legged friend and get out there? It’s not really surprising that Dog’s help us meet new people as they are great ice breakers, their friendly and mischievous antics can really stir up a conversation. In some parts of the UK there are dog training social classes where dog owners can meet up and enjoy a drink together. Why not take your ‘chum’ to a dog friendly cafe/place to eat so they can enjoy a nice meal and a good drink as you enjoy yours.

Dog owners usually look for certain qualities in a partner, what does owning a dog show about your personality?

Well, there’s a common interest in dog owners personalities, but having a pet shows the caring, nurturing and fun side to someone’s personality. On average 9/10 of dog owners said they wouldn’t get into a relationship if their potential partner didn’t like dogs.

It’s not only you that will enjoy benefit from having a companion. Your dog can too! It’s always better to pair puppies together from a young age, MOST dogs are socially adaptable creatures, and this means they can be more tolerant of other dogs sharing their lives. But this does mean that not all Dog’s will get along, and raising two dogs can be A LOT of hard work, so always bare that in mind if you’re thinking about making a  new addition to your family.

Has your pooch helped to provide you with your perfect match? Did you meet your “other half” whilst walking the dogs?  If so we would love to hear your story!