Burgess Pet Care

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!

Grooming your dog on a regular basis helps to remove dirt from his fur and prevent matting and as such should be seen as a vital part of his weekly pet care routine.  Brushing removes dirt, dead skin and dead hair and it also offers the owner an opportunity to bond with the dog and check for any visible health problems including dry skin, fleas, bumps, bruises and potentially serious lumps.

When thinking of your dog’s grooming routine, don’t simply think of brushing. Grooming includes:

• Brushing
• Bathing
• Drying
• Combing
• Trimming fur
• Cleaning teeth
• Cleaning ears

Usually, it is the type of coat that will dictate how often your dog needs to be groomed. Long haired dogs will require more of a wash/dry/brush than a short haired dog, particularly after a muddy walk. Use a quality, specialist shampoo and bear in mind that different breeds require a different formulation of shampoo. The wrong type can strip the oils from the fur, leaving it dry, dull and brittle.

Maisey, sent to us by Deb Roberts

The same rule applies for the type of brush you use. There is no “one size fits all” solution so you will need to use a brush appropriate for your dog’s fur.

Speak to the staff in your local pet store to determine which type of brush is right for your dog and ask them to guide you to suitable products which will help you to keep your dog’s nails trim and his ears clean. With nails, teeth and ears if your dog will not let you tend to them, or if you don’t feel confident enough to do these jobs it may be appropriate to book the services of a professional dog grooming company who will be more skilled and will have professional equipment on hand.

All dogs are little emperors in the making; if they can have the world run their way, they will. But while there is a natural inclination for owners to want their dogs to love them, it is a mistake to encourage a pets affection by letting them have their own way.

All dogs need clear rules and boundaries to live by, including rescue dogs. Don’t be tempted to make allowances for bad behaviour – this won’t help you or your dog.

Here are a few things you should consider trying:

• Exercise and play with your dog regularly – it keeps them fit and helps prevent boredom.
• Watch out for chewing! Dogs chew objects around the home for a number of reasons including boredom, teething, attention seeking, diet or distress at being left alone. Make sure they have plenty of their own toys to chew. Old shoes are not a good idea unless you don’t mind sacrificing your best shoes too! A dog will not appreciate the difference!
• Offer good quality dog food from the Burgess Supadog range and feed at regular intervals throughout the day. Don’t spoil him by offering treats and scraps from your plate. They are usually unhealthy and encourage begging.
• Take the dog for regular check-ups at the vet, for protection against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, kennel cough and lungworm.
• Grooming is an excellent way to bond with your dog and should be seen as a positive experience. Pay attention to areas such as the tummy and between the hind legs, which can be neglected. You can also check the skin for lumps and bumps and the eyes and ears for anything unusual.
• Preventing worms and fleas are both essential for a happy, healthy pet. Ask your vet for advice.
• Where possible teach them to be handled from as early and age as possible. This will get them comfortable with being handled from as early and age as possible. This will get them comfortable with being handled when attempting to groom.
• Regularly check your dog’s teeth and toenails plus eyes and ears to make sure they are healthy. Toe nails will naturally wear down if your dog does a lot of walking on hard surfaces, but you may need to clip them to keep them at a good length. Your vet can show you how to do this the first time.

Dogs are the nation’s favourite pet and with a little care and attention they really are man’s best friend. Remember, your dog is your responsibility. Look after him by following some of the tips above – he deserves all the love you can lavish upon him!