The primary purpose of a dog lead is to provide control and restraint over a dog while ensuring their safety and the safety of others

Dog leads come in various types and designs to suit different purposes and dog sizes. Some common types include standard leads, retractable leads, harnesses with built in leads, and specialised leads for specific activities like training, jogging, or hands-free walking. 

Depending on how your dog is with recoil, pulling and training will depend all on the lead used. For example if your dog is constantly pulling and not listening it may be because they feel as if they have more control over where they go. The best lead to use for this case would be the figure of 8 lead. This slows the freedom of walking, painting, eating, and sniffing. It works by slightly pulling their head down when tug on the lead, so they will learn that pulling is not okay.

Retractable leads 

Retractable (also known as flexi) leads are one of the most popular and easiest dog leads in the world. However, they may not be best suited for your dog. They are perfect for slow dogs or small dogs that cannot come of the lead. The problem is, they aren’t always the best option and sometimes cause more problems. For example if your dog sees something they want across the road while they are the long extendable lead, there is no way to pull them back from running across the road. Some of the main problems of retractable are:

• 1. Thin like cords 
• 2. Not the best for big strong dogs 
• 3. Tangles/knots 
• 4. Easy to wrap around the dogs legs 
• 5. Encourages bad and uncontrollable behaviour

So when you next think about buying a retractable lead, make sure you get a strong flexi lead and training your dog to walk nicely on them. This can reduce the accidents that can happen with these types of lead.

Lead colours – what do they mean?

There are multiple colours of leads that have different meanings. Let’s find out what colour lead your dog may need:

Red- a red lead mostly tends to be a warning. Normally this can mean the dog is not friendly or has behaviour issues. When approaching a dog on a red warning lead, talk to the owner before any interaction with your dog.

Green- a green dog lead means the dog is friendly and comfortable around strangers and other dogs.

Yellow- a yellow dog lead usually means nervous. Normally seen as a caution sign. The best thing to do is to keep your distance as dogs with this lead require space. 

Blue- a blue dog lead is usually for service dogs that assist to disabled people, immobile people and people with medical conditions do not distract these dogs as they are most likely working.

White- a white dog lead is for dogs that may be blind, deaf or struggle to hear or see. These dogs require space and carefulness.

Lets hope you found the right lead to use for your dog! But if not, you can pop into our shop to have a chat about what to use for your dog.

– Caitlyn

Some days can just be the absolute worst. Your boss shouted at you, you had a row with your partner and your car broke down. Things can often pile up and by days end it can all boil to the surface and you want the earth to swallow you whole. But then you get home and your dog attacks you with love and licks. They don’t know how your day’s been, they’re just happy you’re home. Then for a few moments you forget the day and a smile creeps in.

Later on in the evening you might start to feel a little upset and tears run down your face. It won’t be long before a furry face is licking away your tears and throwing themselves at you. Because that’s the beauty of dogs. They’re capable of empathy which is a beautiful and powerful emotion. They love deeply and feel sadness and grief deeply too. People talk about dogs having a sixth sense, that they can sense your emotions and they definitely do react when you’re ill or upset. They hate it and they often get upset too. They might drive you insane one day, but be the only thing that keep you sane the next. They have annoying traits, cute traits, funny traits and just generally their own way of living. The vast complexities of dog personalities is just amazing. They all have their own little unique quirks which make them special and the little habits that slowly mould with ours.

My Sprocker is strange, adorable and rather cunning times. Here’s a few examples of what he’s like.

He has mad half hours when he’s had a wet walk or being given food he really likes. He’ll run all over the house barely stopping for breath.

He’s fiercely loyal. I haven’t lived at home for 4 years now but he still patiently waits outside my door to come sleep beside me most nights.

Certain times of the year an invisible barrier will appear in the kitchen apparently. One week he’ll enter the kitchen no problem. The next? He’ll slowly edge forward then back away as if there’s something in his way. He’ll do this for a good few minutes before he scrambles his legs and dashes into the kitchen crossing the invisible border.

He’s a bit cheeky when it comes to coming back in from the garden. He will sometimes refuse to come back in when the person who let him out calls him back. But the moment someone else calls him in, he’s in like a shot. It’s not dependent on the person either, he does it to everyone equally.

When I come home after a few months away he often ignores me when I enter the house. Almost as if he’s mad at me for leaving him. It’s not long before he’s batting his paw at me when I stop cuddling him for more than 3 seconds. It can start to get quite annoying but it’s still always nice to have that unconditional love. It’s the little things like this when their routines and habits become so deeply embedded into our daily lives that makes being a dog owner a joy.

Which is what brings me to the terrible phrase in question ‘But they’re just a dog’ A phrase that dog lovers detest. A phrase which belittles the beauty and wonder of dogs. I get it, some people aren’t owners or dog lovers but it’s such a redundant thing to say. People usually say this when someone expresses their love for their dog. As a way of saying you shouldn’t care this much for something which isn’t human. There’s also that painful sting when someone uses it after your best friend has died. Dog’s aren’t forever, we only get them for a short time but when they are here, they leave such an everlasting impression. When they go they leave a gaping hole. After all, they’re always there. You hear them at night, they welcome you home they make you go outside. They are a massive part of your life. Then they go and the house just feels lifeless, quiet and incomplete. No-one launches themselves at you when you come through the door. No sounds at night or rustling on your bed and an empty basket where they used to lay. It gets to dinner and walk time and you find yourself going through the motions before you realise. It’s just quiet and a little less mad. It is absolutely heart breaking to lose a pet and it’s a type of grief that is too often dismissed by people. For you, they may just be a ‘dog’ one of billions who cares but for the owner they have just lost a member of their family.

Then comes the decision of what to do next because this always feels horrible and wrong whichever way you try and slice it. Do I get another dog? Because when you do that you always have that niggling feeling of guilt. As if you’re replacing them. That this newer dog will serve as a distraction and you’ll slowly forget your previous dog. Or do you end your dog days? It’s a perfectly normal feeling to have and it’s important to take your time to grieve and process the death of a pet. As depressing as it is you have to adapt to the new state of the house, it doesn’t mean you forget them. I lost my cocker spaniel 10 years ago and whenever I see other cocker spaniels I’m always reminded of him. His floppy ears bounding up and down the stairs barking and patrolling the house, the way he stuck to my mum like a shadow and his love of football. The memories feel like they might fade but they’ll always be up there and the love you gave them will never disappear.

So when someone says you to ‘but they’re just a dog’ make your passions heard. Proudly exclaim that ‘just a dog’ is such a bland perspective to have on life. Tell them about some of the times your dog’s made you laugh, smile and cry. The stories of them being crazy or funny to keep them alive. They’re members of the family and the amount of joy and fun they bring to life makes the phrase ‘just a dog’ seem laughable.

Winter is well and truly here and we’re all feeling the cold and wet weather. Your dogs are probably feeling it too. While it can be tempting to hibernate with your dog on the sofa 24/7 in a vegetated state, they do still need stimulation. While we offer daytime walks, late evenings and night walks are up to you and can seem daunting in the wet and cold conditions. So make sure that both you and your dog are well equipped, dress up warm and brave the weather. Some breeds are more suited to the warm with a thick comfy coat like Labradors, German Shepard’s and of course Huskies (These Ice wolves are essentially built for this). Smaller dogs like Chihuahua’s and Short coated breeds such as Greyhounds, Whippets and Staffordshire Bull Terriers may struggle in the weather. It might be worth investing in a winter coat to help them combat the cold. If you want to really get in sync with your pet you could get matching jumpers and be the coolest pet owner combo around.

It also gets dark around 4pm now which isn’t fun at all and can make the outside world seem all that scarier. Make sure both you and your pooch are safe in these darker months and stick to well-lit areas and routes you know. Consider bringing a torch or dressing you or your dog up in reflective clothing so you’re more visible while close to roads. For exercising your dog outside with a ball for example, look into grabbing a flashing ball so it’s easier to keep track of your dog for re-call and the ball itself. If in the unlikely event we do have snow in Portsmouth very soon make sure you take care of your pooches paws. Remove any packed snow or ice balls that may be trapped In their paw pads. Is the snow or ice bad for your dog though? Because quite often they will try to lick or eat it. It is not poisonous to them but sharp ice and large pieces may be difficult for them to chew and cause dental issues.

But hey we get it, the weather’s dark and depressing and the mere thought of leaving your palace of comfort might upset you both. Maybe it’s too dangerous and we get an unusual amount of snow again. That’s okay just make sure that your dog gets some indoor exercise for days like these. Play fetch with them or tug of war or make up a little game with them get creative with it but make sure they are safe, happy and fulfilled indoors.

We wouldn’t want your little furry friend to get unwell, so here’s a helping hand on what not to feed your dog or to leave lying around.

Once consumed your dog may experience vomit and diarrhea If matters get worse always book a trip to the vets as it maybe a bigger issue, especially if you dont know how much your companion has eaten.

So here’s a few examples of what not to feed your dog.

Avocado:
Although this might be a healthy snack for us humans, avocado shouldn’t be fed to your furry pal.

Alcohol:
A lot of people would know not to give their dog alcohol but alcohol poisoning is more common than you think! We dont mean your dog will be going in to your fridge and grabbing a beer, it can be as simple as them getting a hold of unbaked doug for example the yeast can result in alcohol poisoning.

Caffeine:
Caffeine can be found in anything like coffee, tea, energy drinks etc. Caffeine can actually cause death in dogs and cats. It effects all animals but dogs and cats seem to be the most reactive to it.

Chocolate:
Chocolate seems to be the one everyone is aware about which is a good sign! The odd chocolate chip in a cookie wouldn’t be an issue. However dark chocolate is the bigger problem. Also if your dog consumes a load of chocolate then that also would be a worry.

Grapes, Raisins & currants:
All of these healthy lovely snacks for humans are very toxic to dogs! Consumption of these can result in to small kidney problems.

Mushrooms & Onions:
Both can cause diarrhea and sickness, weakness resulting in collapsing. Certain breeds are more sensitive but it effects all.

If you’re not sure if your dog can eat a certain food – google it! There’s plenty of helpful websites that can help you. You can always ask your local vet too!

BusyB have collected a few ways to prevent your doggies from being bored at home, for example if you pop to the shop or head out for dinner. Here’s a few ways of keeping your pooch occupied..

1. Giving your dog a good walk before you go out always helps! (the right amount of exercise) Making your dog tired before going out is a great way of making your dog sleep through the time you are out and about.

2. Fun new toys! The old toys may be a fave of theirs but some old toys do get boring, do a clean out! Buying your dog a new toy to play with is a great idea. Not only is it fun to play with it’s great to chew on – a lot better than chewing your furniture i’d say!

3. A classic kong! – filling a kong with some tasty treats is another great way of keeping your dog occupied. Preferably treats that are good for the dog, you could try some chicken, cheese even peanut butter. Sticky foods like peanut butter seem to be a lot better because it takes the dog a lot longer to retrieve the goods.

4. Make meal time fun… you could purchase a slow feeder bowl, this is almost like a maze of food! it takes them a lot longer to eat their dinner which is always good, keeping a dogs mind busy is the cure for boredom. Keeping their brain busy is a must but keeping it busy with food.. bonus! they’d love it.

5. Do any of your family or friends own one of their best pals? why not bring them over? Dogs loooove to socialise so a play date would be perfect, playtime is great for their socialisation but also great to get them tired and ready for a snooze.

So yes, dogs do get bored just like us. You wouldn’t want to be sitting around doing absolutely nothing all day, would you? I know i certainly wouldn’t. So here’s just a few tips on how to help that.