Ted takes his ladyfriend Chelsea to the Nobody Inn…

Last week I took my beautiful collie friend Chelsea to the Nobody Inn in Doddiscombesleigh. It also happened to be her owners birthday, so our humans were in high spirits. The Inn dates from the 17th century, and is bursting with character. On entering the pub there was a nice bowl of fresh water for us, which was appreciated after our car journey. We were seated at a candle lit table, very romantic, and us canines were allowed anywhere in the restaurant, we weren’t restricted to the bar. Chelsea and I settled ourselves under the table together for a catch-up, whilst little Freya cuddled up on a cushion on a comfy chair. Amazing smells of duck, slow roasted belly pork, steak and ale pie and vegetable tortellini wafted around, and we could tell our owners were having fun. When it came to dessert the birthday boys cheesecake arrived with a firework in it and everyone sang happy birthday! The garden looked lovely and as we were leaving we could hear tawny owls calling to each other, we will certainly come back on a sunny day and enjoy the garden this Summer. The Nobody Inn gets the Ted seal of approval!

What are we most proud of about our business?

Last Thursday two of us from the DDB team had a great day out at the London FSB Streamline awards. They were very well organised, and we were made to feel very welcome. The venue overlooking the Thames was lovely, and it was great chatting to a variety of different small businesses and seeing what makes them tick. We had a presentation from Roger Black, Olympic medalist, about the parallels between the world of sport and the world of business, which was fascinating. We were interviewed by Streamline and asked ‘what are you most proud of about your business?’ click on the image below to see our response!

The country mice (and their dogs!) head to the big smoke….

On Valentines Day in the afternoon Director Anna was in the DDB office in the forest, busy making calls and replying to emails arranging happy holidays for dogs, when the phone rings. It’s the FSB, the Federation of Small Businesses, and the good news is that Devon Dog Boarding has won an award! You can see the fancy new logo on the front page of our website:) Anna won the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the South West’ award for her work with Devon Dog Boarding, and the national finals are in London tomorrow. This evening the team, including of course rescue lurcher Ted and miniature poodle Freya, head up to London ready to represent the West Country tomorrow. The awards are presented by ex Olympic athlete Roger Black and the event is during the day. We will keep you posted, thanks for all your support!

Are EWE prepared?

Weekend walks out in the countryside are one of the main delights of having a dog, however you need to remember to keep your dog safe around livestock this Spring. It is a criminal offence to allow your dog to chase or attack livestock, and a dog only needs to be SEEN in a field to count as ‘worrying’ the sheep. By law farmers are allowed to destroy dogs ‘worrying’ their sheep. Make sure you keep your dog on a lead if you are unsure what may be in the field. Take extra care during lambing season, from January to April. Stay safe and enjoy those country walks! 

Top ten Christmas hazards to watch out for!

Christmas is wonderful time of year, and your dog should love how the family spends time together.  Make sure it’s a safe and happy time by remembering these hazards for dogs in your home.

1) CHOCOLATE! Dogs can’t process chocolate, especially dark chocolate, and it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abnormal heart patterns. Make sure all chocolate including tree decorations is out of reach.
2) Grapes, sultanas and raisins are also poisonous to dogs, so no slice of Christmas pudding!
3) Too many rich scraps from the table can cause problems with the gastric tract, so limit your dog’s treats.
4) Wrapping paper can cause blockages in dogs, so make sure they don’t eat it!
5) A house full of noisy people can scare some nervous dogs; give them a safe quiet place to escape to.
6 ) Make sure you know your vet’s Christmas opening hours and emergency contact numbers in case you do have a problem.
7) Be careful when discarding cooked BONES, which can splinter in your dog’s tummy.
8) Guests arriving and leaving may leave your doors open, so make sure your dog can’t get out and on the road
9) With the fire roaring and the house full of people make sure your dog doesn’t overheat.
10) Some people put additives in the Christmas tree’s water to make it last longer, this is toxic for dogs so don’t let them drink it!

Have a wonderful festive season and do send us your Christmas photos with your dog for our Facebook page! 

Is your dog singing in the rain?!

What a wet Summer it was, and this weeks rain has led to severe flooding across Devon. These unusual weather conditions can lead to problems for our dogs, so here are our top three Friday tips to keep your dog singing in the rain!

  Make sure your dogs paws are dried with a towel between the toes, if they stay wet this can cause problems

  If you have a Spaniel, make sure his inner ears don’t stay wet

  Be wary of walking by rivers! Your dog may try to take his usual dip and get swept away by the fast moving water

From our November 2012 newsletter…

Win an advent calendar for your dog!

Why should humans have all the fun? This advent calendar for dogs has tasty dog-friendly chocolate drops hidden behind each door. 
TO WIN just be the FIRST to make a November booking, either for yourself or recommend a friend, and you will win this Good Boy Advent Calendar from our Devon Dog Store. You will also receive 10% off as a reward to brighten up this dark time of year.
For your chance to win be the first to call 01392 458403 or email info@devondogboarding.com with a November 2012 booking and this tasty treat will be winging its way to your dog for a fun filled December!
Alternatively click HERE to enter via the website

Can your dog be seen in the dark?

With the onset of these dark morning and evenings, you may well be caught walking your dog in the dark. Are you both visible to cars, cyclists, joggers and walkers? We know we should be wearing high visibility clothing, but does your dog have the equivalent safety gear? There is a wide range of high vis collars and jackets out there now, including collars that flash, reflective harnesses, reflective leads and reflective vests, as modelled below by Ted and Freya. Our dog store offers all these safety items to help keep you and your dog safe this winter, just click on the photo. Happy Winter Walking!

What to pack for your dog’s happy holiday

• FOOD.  It’s important your dog stays on the same diet, so please provide enough food for the length of stay, plus a bit extra in case you are delayed. Make sure you have given feeding instructions on your client form. Explain any extra requirements when you drop your dog off
• MEDICATION. If your dog is taking medication please make sure you specify how it should be taken, and check there is enough. Make sure your contact details for the vet are up to date in case the family needs to consult them while you are away.
• BEDDING. This helps your dog to feel really at home. If he/she usually sleeps in a crate, please provide this. It’s best to bring some bedding that has not just been washed and smells of home.
• TREATS AND TOYS! This is completely up to you. Feel free to bring your dog’s favourite toy, and if they usually have treats, particularly for training and recall, please provide these.
• CONTACT DETAILS. If these are different to what is on your form please provide an updated number to contact you on.
• LEADS. Please provide your dog’s normal lead, and if you sometimes use an extendable lead please provide this as well.
• GROOMING EQUIPMENT. If your dog has his/her teeth cleaned feel free to provide their usual equipment. If you wish them to be groomed please provide your usual grooming kit, and make sure the family is familiar with how you usually do it.

Is your dog scared of fireworks?

Our October newsletter is out. Click the title below to see the full newsletter and sign up for regular tips,advice and dog tales.

Remember remember the 5th of November….

Loud noises, explosions and screeches on your street, is it any wonder your dog is scared?

Fireworks night can be a real worry for some dog owners. Your dog cannot understand what is happening, and may feel threatened. Here are our ten top tips to keep them calm.

1. Try to walk your dog during daylight hours, so they are not caught out in public when a firework goes off, especially if they are off the lead as they may bolt.
2. Never punish your dog for being scared, this will only make it worse.
3. Equally, don’t fuss over them too much as this will reinforce their belief that there is something to worry about.
4. Stay calm, and talk to your dog in a calm and assertive way. Reassure them that you are the leader, and you know this is not a danger to the household.
5. Close windows and curtains, and play some music or have the TV on to muffle the noise.
6. Make sure your dog has a ‘safe area’ such as their bed to retreat to.
7. If your dog is seriously stressed consult your vet. They may recommend a pheromone diffuser which calms your dog. Some homeopathic treatments can be effective too, such as the use of lavender.
8. You can try to acclimatise your dog slowly by playing a fireworks CD in advance of the event to desensitise them.
9. If you have a puppy that needs to go out to the toilet regularly, consider placing some newspaper down so they don’t have to go outside. Fear may cause them to empty themselves as well.
10. In extreme cases the vet may recommend a tranquiliser, but try to test the other options first. If you want your dog to stay in the countryside where there are no fireworks please contact us to board your dog for Fireworks night at anna@devondogboarding.com

Wishing you and your dogs a happy 5th of November!