Are you and your dog looking for a holiday that offers both adventure and relaxation in stunning countryside, yet is only a couple of miles from several beaches? Well I think I’ve found the perfect location! Kelling Heath Holiday Park in North Norfolk welcomes dogs with open paws and recently we spent some time staying in one of their dog-friendly Woodland Lodges. The park, which is an accredited 2-star Dark Sky Discovery Site,  is set within 300 acres of woodland and open heathland, providing a tranquil haven for wildlife and visitors alike. There are several waymarked trails to explore ..read more

Like most dogs my spaniels live for adventure and that means that they routinely travel a fair distance in the car. Safety is a huge priority when travelling with your pet and of course here in the UK it is actually a legal requirement that dogs (and other animals) are safely secured when riding in a vehicle with you. So when I found out that there was actually a crash tested car seat for dogs I jumped at the chance to road test it. (sorry guys, pun intended) The Tavo Maeve Pet Car Seat is the first crash tested dog seat available to buy in the UK.  I bet you’re thinking it looks like a h ..read more

Did you know that some dogs can spend nearly half of their lives asleep? That being the case it is obviously important for them to have comfortable places to snooze away the hours. My spaniels have a collection of dog beds, some of which they like more than others but now there is a clear winner – The Hampton Nest Bed from Ralph & Co, arguably the most comfortable dog bed on the market, judging by how much time Lucia spends napping in it anyway. From a human perspective I think this is the most stunning dog bed that the girls have ever had, I am very tempted to save it for ‘best’ but I don ..read more

As dog owners, we often face the dilemma of where our furry friends should sleep – in their own designated beds or snuggled up with us in our own beds. This debate has sparked numerous discussions among pet enthusiasts, with passionate arguments on both sides. Each option comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately, the decision depends on various factors including your lifestyle, your dog’s preferences, and any specific health considerations. My own dogs, Maya and Lucia actually prefer to sleep together in a dog bed and more recently have chosen to sleep on a Dog ..read more

Just saying that Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) is dog-friendly is an understatement, it’s literally got something for every dog and human to enjoy. Think amazingly scenic hikes and walks, stunning views of mountains and waterfalls and some of the best dog-friendly beaches in the UK and you can start to see why it’s popularity with dog parents grows year on year.  In fact I love the area so much I have taken around 30 short breaks and holidays in Snowdonia.. Over time I have seen more and more pubs, cafes, accommodation and attractions become dog friendly and for better or worse many mor ..read more

Dogs lives are short and I think we can all agree that we want them to enjoy the time they are here as much as possible, for me that means not keeping their world small and filling my spaniels days with fun and adventure.  To make that enjoyable for both me and them it has meant investing time in their training to build their confidence to cope and behave in a variety of situations. I have found with my dogs the best way of building their trust and helping them to develop the skills they need has primarily been through reward based training. Now, I’m not going to lie, my dogs have very ..read more

Dogs deserve the absolute best care we can give them and I am passionate about keeping my four-legged companions as healthy as they can be, so I am always interested by new theories and developments from the dog health world. I was intrigued when a company called BIOME9 recently got in touch with me to tell me about BIOME9   – a simple to do, but cutting edge AI powered test, that analyses the bacteria in your dogs microbiome and can determine if there is a need to add any nutrients I’m not going to lie, I had absolutely no idea that a dogs gut wall held so much vital information or ..read more

So I was recently introduced to EzyDog, a brand that began life in Australia back in 1995 but is now worn by dogs all over the world. EzyDog started their business with a vision of creating tough, durable dog accessories that would withstand the rigours of adventure dog life on land or in the water, and they have certainly achieved that! The dog harnesses and coats are designed with real flair and an eye for detail and would be equally suitable for a fashion conscious pup to wear on a trip to a dog-friendly cafe, as they would on a pooch bounding around the countryside or beach. There are seve ..read more

I think it’s quite well known nowadays that most National Trust properties welcome dogs to visit and have a good sniff around, but did you know that many of the National Trust’s holiday cottages are dog-friendly too? My dogs,  Maya and Lucia are Ambassadogs for Forthglade Dog Food and due to Forthglade and the National Trust working together on a great initiative, ‘The Dog’s Welcome Project’, we were lucky enough to be offered a gifted a stay in a dog-friendly National Trust cottage. I chose Hempfield Stables in Cheshire for its close proximity to a wealth of National Trust sites, and als ..read more

So I guess when most of us think of pumpkins the first thing that comes to mind is Halloween, why then am I writing about them in December you might ask! Well for years now whenever my dogs have had any kind of digestive issues (which in the case of spaniels probably means they have been indulging in a bit of bin scavenging) I’ve reached for some pumpkin puree as my first port of call. Why?  because pumpkin is a natural stomach soother and can help to settle diarrhea in dogs. Of course it is no substitute for a visit to the vet if symptoms are severe! However pumpkin puree for dogs can ..read more