I am not trying to take over the world! The dreaded ‘D’ word will always rear its ugly head. It is a very common misconception that dogs are obsessed with dominance and are always looking for ways to prove their control over you when, in fact, our dogs actually have very little control over their lives. We control when they eat, what they eat, when they sleep, where they sleep, when they can go to the toilet, the list goes on. Dogs are actually believed to see everything in the world as a cost/benefit analysis. What does this mean? It means that every behaviour is exhibited based on what the ..read more

Christmas is, in my opinion, the most wonderful time of the year! That being said, Christmas can also be a really tough time for our dogs. The addition of Christmas decorations, a tree in the living room (what?!) and the sudden influx of all your nearest and dearest can be a bit of a shock for our furry friends. So, how can we help them cope with all the changes? Firstly, I introduce all Christmas decorations slowly over a few weeks. Many of us, I’m sure, will have a ‘Christmas decorating weekend’ planned but everything changing all at once can be really overwhelming for our pups. Sneaking d ..read more

Losing your dog is one of the biggest fears dog owners face. In the heat of the moment, it can be easy to panic and forget what to do, but it’s crucial that we do the right thing at the right time as the first 24 hours can make a huge difference. The most important thing is to try and keep your cool, think logically and get into action. Day 1  Missing 30 Minutes-1hr Spend a bit of time thinking it through. Were they lost at home or on a walk? If on a walk, do they know the area well? Is there an obvious place where they are likely to run to, like the car or an entrance? Often dogs will ..read more

It’s that time of year again where the leaves turn a beautiful array of orange and gold. I have always loved Autumn. The frosty mornings and the crunchiness under your feet. What Autumn does bring, however, is Halloween and Bonfire Night. Exciting events for children and adults alike, but potentially terrifying for our furry friends. It’s most crucial that our dogs are prepared for these events well in advance, and the more we can do with our puppies during their early stages, the better. Socialisation is often misunderstood as only referring to dogs and people, but socialisation is important ..read more

Over the last few years, harnesses have become increasingly popular as dog owners strive to be kinder to their furry friends. Due to shifts in culture, our dogs are spending more time on lead than ever before which means that the walking equipment we use on our dogs is becoming increasingly important. In the UK, there are strict rules on the control of dogs and restrictions are becoming tighter as more people buy pets. Dogs have a lot of fragile structures in their neck and putting too much pressure through their collar can be dangerous.  What are the benefits of a good harness? Takes ..read more

Socialisation has become a real buzz word over the last few years. It’s been bandied around all over the place but very few people know how to implement effective socialisation. Socialisation involves every new thing that your dog is exposed to, not just dogs and people. Your puppy should be socialised with everything they may come into contact with in their day to day life as an adult. Many puppy owners end up causing long standing issues with their dogs by their well meaning attempts at socialisation. I would like to help all puppy owners avoid these mistakes. Here are my top tips for effe ..read more

I’m a firm believer that crate training is one of the most useful things you can teach your new puppy. From sleeping at night, to preventing accidents and protecting your furniture, crates have a multitude of uses and can make puppyhood just that much easier to cope with. Having a puppy is hard. When we decide to get a puppy, we think of little cute balls of fluff, going on nice walks, playing happily in the garden. What we often forget about is razor sharp teeth, sleepless nights, and standing in a puddle of pee at 3am. When I turn up at a client’s house, they are sometimes embarrassed abo ..read more

The dog food industry is worth billions globally and is a highly saturated market. There are hundreds of thousands of different dog food brands, covering every form of food preparation from air dried, freeze dried, cooked, raw, cold pressed, etc. The choice can be completely mind boggling! How are you supposed to know what is best for your dog when every brand claims that they are the best in the market?! Here, I have tried to shed a little bit of light on the differences between dog foods, and what you should be looking out for. Dry Food Air Dried Fresh ingredients are slowly dried using ..read more

Tiny Rebel Brewery Bar Tiny Rebel Brewery Bar is set in an industrial estate just outside of Newport. This brewery serves all their own craft beers as well as some pretty delicious food. Dogs are welcome everywhere in the bar and the staff love to give them fusses! Drago Lounge Serving great breakfasts and lunch, particularly for veggies and vegans, this restaurant in Newport Town Centre is perfect for a brunch with your pooch. Dogs are offered water and treats whilst you tuck in to your own delicious meal. The Dragonfly Inn This pub is just a stones throw from the popular Tredegar House ..read more

Pen-y-Fan Difficulty: 5/5 Distance: 5miles Parking: Storey Arms Layby The famous Pen-Y-Fan is not one to be missed! We like to take the less popular route up behind the back of the Storey Arms. This route is the more direct route up the mountain, but also much steeper than the Pont ar Daf trail. There are loose sheep so please make sure your dogs are kept on lead. The Sugar Loaf Difficulty: 4/5 Distance: 5.3miles Parking: Sugar Loaf Car Park This is a lovely walk up one of Monmouth's famous hills. The route will take you around the edge of the peak before climbing along the ridge until you r ..read more