Beautiful Bedtimes

It’s always very exciting when we welcome a new supplier to Barkitty, especially when the products are so awesome! We have a new range of faux leather beds, which suit every home and dog!

The Oxford I and Oxford II are classically elegant, and ooze class. The Richmond in Chocolate and black are suitable for the most discerning dogs, however the white, red and even pink will be adored by the most fabulous fidos!

There’s a small selection in store, so come in and try before you buy. They are truly amazing, and I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do!

View the collection here http://www.barkitty.co.uk/category_dog_bedding_1.shtml

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Autumn Arrives

As we’re all aware it’s the time of year for a new coat as the Autumn sets in! It should be no different for our pets! Some lovely winter warmers have arrived in store, come and see for yourself!

www.barkitty.co.uk

Animal Magic: Benefits To Your Health Of Getting A Pet

Animal Magic: Benefits To Your Health Of Getting A Pet
by K9 Magazine

Getting out of a warm, cosy bed on dark, frosty mornings to take the dog out is probably the last thing you feel like doing. But take encouragement from the fact that it really is good for you.

Quite apart from a blast of fresh air to wake you up, going walkies gives you both the chance to get some exercise. Getting up and about is a great way to keep your dog happy and healthy, but vitally important for you, especially if you’re going to spend the rest of the day slumped at your desk.

Your daily dog walk may not feel as strenuous as sweating buckets at the gym, but rest assured it’s doing just as much good. According to pet health care experts Bob Martin, dog walkers actually get far more exercise than people who consider themselves regular gym goers – an average of five hours and 38 minutes per week, compared with just one hour and 20 minutes per week for the Lycra lovers.

Feeling smug? You should be, as even the fact that you’re getting out every day can have huge health benefits. Scientists believe that doing up to an hour of moderate activity most days combined with a healthy diet could cut mortality rates by 50 per cent.

The benefits of owning a dog go beyond a mere leg-stretch. Medical researchers have found that dog owners have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, for example, and are generally healthier than those without a canine companion.

There’s the social aspect of meeting other dog owners while out and about, and the structure of having a daily routine; both factors which could go a long way to raising mood and stirring you from inertia. In fact, researchers at the University of Portsmouth found that daily dog walking could even ward off depression. Are there any sights in life happier than a dog proudly carrying a stick? You can’t write a prescription for that.

Cat owners can take heart from the news that researchers have claimed all manner of health benefits from caring for a feline friend – in fact a study by the University of Minnesota found that cat owners have a much lower heart attack risk.

It doesn’t take a doctor to tell you that curling up with a cat on the couch at the end of a stressful day can have psychological benefits, either. According to a study carried out by the Mental Health Foundation in conjunction with Cat’s Protection, it’s all down to the relaxing vibrations in a cat’s purr.

Even having a tank of goldfish in the corner of a room is thought to be relaxing, and while lizards and snakes aren’t everyone’s choice of perfect pet, they’re an interesting addition to the household. Having a pet is good for kids, too – it can help them develop a sense of empathy and responsibility, as well as boosting their self-esteem, say psychologists. Owning a dog can also help children become more active, guarding against obesity.

Care for your pet, and it will care for you.

www.barkitty.co.uk

Tips For Dogs That Don’t Like Car Travel

Tips For Dogs That Don’t Like Car Travel
by K9 Magazine

Travel sickness is a rare condition that can take hold of certain dogs just as it can individual people. Understanding the cause and effects of travel sickness in dogs as well as, obviously, identifying a potential cure for the problem is often easier said than done. Some dogs get carsick just the same as many small children do.

If you depend on a car for most of your transportation, you will want to help your puppy overcome carsickness as quickly and easily as possible. You can do a number of things to help your dog avoid or overcome travel sickness. Cure Travel Sickness in Dogs: Top Tips From the start, help your dog form a positive association with the car.

Without starting the engine, sit in the car with your dog on your lap for a few minutes every day. Praise and pet your dog. After a week of this, start the motor. Place your pup on the seat next to you.

Pet and praise him, making the experience agreeable. After a week of repeating this once a day, get a friend or relative to go in the car with you for a daily ride. Be sure that your dog has an empty stomach and has had the chance to eliminate before getting into the car. Have your helper sit the dog on his or her lap. The helper must not allow the dog to squirm and wiggle around.

Take a short ride around the block. Each week increase slightly the distance that you travel. (One-week intervals for each of these steps are not cast in stone. Shorten or lengthen the time depending on your dog’s reaction.) Be sure that when you ride with your dog, you have someone in the car to help control him. If that’s not possible, put the dog in a crate in the car. Do not let your dog ride on the driver’s lap or crawl under his or her legs. This can become a bad habit and is very dangerous.

Once your dog begins obedience training and understands to lie down and stay, employ this exercise in the car when travelling. Associate trips in the car with fun. Every car ride should not end up at the veterinarian, groomer, or boarding kennel. Use the car to take your dog to the beach, park, or woods.

Most dogs, like most children, outgrow travel sickness. In the interim, doing the right things can minimise messes, limit nervousness, and shorten the time it takes for your dog to learn that car rides can be a lot of fun. If none of the above steps seems to help, contact your veterinarian. In this article we’re not going to touch on the medical approach to curing dog travel sickness, we’ll leave that for a future article as it is a subject in its own right.

13 Things to Take With You When Travelling With a Dog

In order to have a comfortable and enjoyable time when travelling with your dog, you need to prepare certain things ahead of time. You need to be ready in case of an emergency or any unpredictable situation that may occur. So keep in mind the following 13 items and make sure that you have them ready and available before you go on that road trip with your dog.

1. A dog crate or den with a small blanket inside for your dog’s safety and comfort, or a seatbelt harness if you prefer to have him stay on the seat.

2. An adequate supply of dog food to last for the entire trip. Make sure to bring enough extra food, especially if your dog is a fussy eater.

3. At least three gallons of extra water for your dog. If you are going to a different country, keep in mind that the water there may be different from the water you have at home. Since your dog may be sensitive to the differences in the water which could make him sick, be sure that you carry enough water to last for the entire trip.

4. A water bowl, particularly one that is heavy enough to prevent spilling so that it can be used inside a moving vehicle. An alternative to this is to teach your dog how to drink out of a water bottle.

5. A first-aid kit specifically made for your dog.

6. A suitable collar with a clear and legible ID tag.

7. Two – five chew toys.

8. Extra toys for him to play with, which will also help to keep him busy during the road trip.

9. An extra lead and extra collar. It’s amazing how many problems you can encounter if your dog’s lead and collar breaks!

10. Any vitamins or medication that he is currently taking.

11. Paper towels and plastic bags to clean up after his potty breaks.

12. His regular grooming kit, which includes a brush, flea comb, nail clippers, toothbrush, and other items that you regularly use during his grooming sessions.

13. Thick towels and large blankets in case he decides to jump in a river or run in a muddy ground when you stop the vehicle for breaks.

Dog definitions

Also sent to me on an email, thought I'd share :)


LEASH: A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your person where you want him/her to go.

DOG BED: Any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.

DROOL: is what you do when your persons have food and you don't. To do this properly you must sit as close as you can and look sad and let the drool fall to the floor, or better yet, on their laps.

SNIFF: A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply, repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop. This can also be done to human's crotches.

GARBAGE CAN: A container which your neighbors put out once a week to test your ingenuity. You must stand on your hind legs and try to push the lid off with your nose. If you do it right you are rewarded with margarine wrappers to shred, beef bones to consume and moldy crusts of bread.

BICYCLES: Two-wheeled exercise machines, invented for dogs to control body fat. To get maximum aerobic benefit, you must hide behind a bush and dash out, bark loudly and run alongside for a few yards;
the person then swerves and falls into the bushes, and you prance away.

DEAFNESS: This is a malady which affects dogs when their person want them in and they want to stay out. Symptoms include staring blankly at the person, then running in the opposite direction, or lying down.

THUNDER: This is a signal that the world is coming to an end. Humans remain amazingly calm during thunderstorms, so it is necessary to warn them of the danger by trembling uncontrollably, panting,
rolling your eyes wildly, and following at their heels.

WASTEBASKET: This is a dog toy filled with paper, envelopes, and old candy wrappers. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house until your person comes home

SOFAS: Are to dogs like napkins are to people. After eating it is polite to run up and down the front of the sofa and wipe your whiskers clean.

BATH: This is a process by which the humans drench the floor, walls and themselves. You can help by shaking vigorously and frequently.

BUMP: The best way to get your human's attention when they are drinking a fresh cup of coffee or tea

GOOSE BUMP: A maneuver to use as a last resort when the Regular Bump doesn't get the attention you require..... especially effective when combined with The Sniff. See above.

LOVE: Is a feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. The best way you can show your love is to wag your tail. If you're lucky, a human will love you in return. If not, you can always sniff their crotches.

You know you're a dog person when..

Well I know me and most of my customers would recognise some of this :) ... a friend sent this in an email...

You know you're a dog person when...

You have more dog beds, chew toys, collars, leashes, harnesses, and dog crates than you have dogs.

You meet other people with dogs, and remember their dog's call name after 30 seconds, but don't get the owner/handler's name until you've met them 2 or 3 times.

You don't think twice about trading licks of an ice cream cone with your dog.

Your parents give up on grandchildren and start to refer to your dogs as "your kids" or your children." (Bonus: they start to call them "our granddogs.")

90 percent of your Internet connection time goes to the dogs (seeing what's new when you enter your breed into the browser, reading up on multiple lists, checking out photos, sounds and FAQs, etc.).

You have hundreds of pictures of your dogs on your desk at work, in your wallet, etc., but none of your family or yourself.

No one wants to ride in your car because they know they'll get dog hair on their clothes.

You reach into your pockets for change, and liver treats, dog kibble, and pick-up bags fall all over. (Bonus: You've done this in a classy establishment.)

You've had long meaningful discussions with your friends on the best way to trim your dog's nails, but have never had a manicure or pedicure in your lifetime.

Books and movies are ruined for you if the dog references are incorrect.

The highlight of your day is spending time with your dog.

You watch simply awful movies because your breed is either featured in a cameo scene or there's a 3-second camera shot during a crowd scene.

All of your clothes have dog hair on them, even when they come back from the laundromat or dry cleaners.

The only thing your friends, colleagues, and passing acquaintances say to you when they see you is, "How are the dogs?" or "How many dogs do you have now?"

Your photo Christmas cards feature your dogs (humans optional).

www.barkitty.co.uk

Little bundle of fun

Hi there,

I have just launched this new product idea; 'New Puppy' Luxury Start-Up Set... I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts...

www.barkitty.co.uk

Setting up Shop

Written April 30^th 2012

So after much blood, sweat and (luckily not many) tears the shop is finally open to the public! I have had so many compliments on it and sales are great which is encouraging.

For readers who have not yet visited I thought I’d give you a bit of a virtual tour; although coming in to see me really is much more fun.

The pine dresser is stocked full of Pet Head products for your dog and cat including ‘dry clean’ shampoo for dogs and Pretty Kitty strawberry yoghurt detangling spray for your long haired moggies who are highly unlikely to jump gleefully into the bath. These products are great for dogs in between baths and for cats who like to wander around picking up different smells. Also on the dresser is the Hing bone bowls in red, white, black and pink, and the Becobowls. The Becobowls are a great innovative product and I wonder if one day all plastics will be made in this way. They are created from plant fibres which means they are strong enough to withstand dishwashing; and perform like melamine; but here’s the good part… they are actually biodegradable, so when you are finished with them and the go to landfill (or on your compost heap to speed things up) they will eventually disappear back into the land. There are 3 sizes to suit any pet, and there are matching food and litter scoops also available.

Alongside the dresser is the extensive range of pet beds, including the floral, stripe and pheasant print from Joules; starting at £24.00. They are fantastic quality with traditional Joules prints and made in the UK!  Also in the bed section is the Union Jack duvet, and the House of Paws spots and floral, also made in Britain, and many more.

The centre table houses the range of Puppia harnesses with co-ordinating leads, as well as the Mutts & Hounds quality apparel. The Union Jack harness has been on of the best sellers so far, and I can only imagine the demand will continue with the impending Jubilee celebrations. The Scrufts collars, handmade in Brighton, are also showcased on the centre table. The mannequins have worked really well as a size guide for customers, and 10 days in Bobby has finally stopped barking at them and realised they’re not going to play with him!

Next to the counter is the beautiful selection of leads, ranging from £10 for a printed nylon style to £38 for a handmade leather style. Here sits another best selling item, the doggy rainmacs in red, yellow, navy, pink or lime – unfortunately a wardrobe essential for British springtime! The Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff toys are also here. They are one of the most resilient toys available, and Planet Dog promise to replace any which prove otherwise! 2% of profits on these items go to canine charities worldwide.

Kitties corner is opposite the counter, with the soft cat beds and cocoons for even the fussiest puddy. There are a selection of collars, including handmade leather ones with Swarovski crystal exclusive to Barkitty. We also sell Lily’s Kitchen organic cat food (as well as dog treats); and hand crocheted Queen’s corgis stuffed with quality catnip and a ‘Best of Britain’ bow tie (£7.00).

Please come by and see for yourself as stock and displays are changing all of the time. Dogs and children are welcome!

See you soon!

Lisa x