​New Years Eve can be a very anxious time for your pup.  Although it is a fun time for you and your family, it is an evening with loud noises and out of the blue disruption of your dogs routine.  There are a few ways in which you can protect your fur-baby from this stress.

Exercise
Be prepared for your evening out.  Giving them plenty of exercise prior to you going out, they have less energy and will be less prone to panic.

Confinement
Crate trained puppies will find solace in their crate.  They can hide in it and if you cover it with a towel or blanket (if it is not too hot) this will also bring an extra element of security.  If your puppy is not crate trained, put them in a room that they are comfortable in that they can not escape, hurt themselves or damage your things.
 
Turn on the TV or radio
Having a constant noise in the house will distract them from the banging sounds.  With soothing music hours prior to the loud fireworks, your dog may be more relaxed with the music playing.

Toys and treats
Just like leaving your pooch for the day, leave out plenty of water, treats and toys to keep your dog calm and filled with games to play to keep them busy.  If you are home with your dog, give their favourite treat when the noise begins to associate a positive activity with the noise.

Keeping Calm
If you are having friends and family over for the festivities, keep calm and do not over excite your fur-iend.  Also, if you are having small children around when your dog is not used to it, keep the playing at a minimum as it may put additional stress on the dog.
 
PET MINDING – we can take care of that!
If you are going away and can not take your pet, we can take care of that.  We offer pet minding facilities which is safe and personalised for your dog.  We take great care and they are also on a holiday as well.
 Book your pet in now and have peace of mind.

,The Australian summer may bite harder than a 12 week old puppy.  Some breeds, in particular will struggle with the heat and are at a risk of overheating.  Dogs with thick coats, very young or very old dogs but breeds such as shih tzus, pugs, bulldogs and boxers are at high risk.  Dogs do not sweat, they pant.  This cools their body, but as you can imagine, this is not always enough.  WATER, WATER, WATER!
 
 I know, I know, it is obvious to keep up a steady water supply, however dogs play, kick it and even drink a little more in summer.  Put the bowl in the shade and even consider a ceramic bowl which is great for keeping the water cool.  We have some great ones in store so come and check it out. 
 
Some dogs may not like to drink so much but if you put a pieces of apple or toys, they will bob for the object and take in some water at the same time.  Also hydro toys are a sure way to cool your dog down when they are chewing them.

​Another idea is to increase the amount of wet food in their diet.  This will increase the water intake and prevent dehydration.

If your dog spends a lot of time outside, they will instinctively look for the driest and coolest area.  Put up a shady structure like an air tent which is in a breezy area so they can get plenty of shade.  Encourage them to the spot by enticing them with bones or treats.
 
​If your dog cannot come inside during the day, installing a mist system on your patio can be an incredible relief for the dog.  If you get this system, you will see the birds and other wildlife enjoy 10o temperature dip as well. 🦜

​Wading pools are a great way for the dog to lay down.  Don’t fill it too high unless someone is around to supervise your pet but needs to be deep enough to cover belly and paws.  Swimming pools are enticing to some dogs, however be very cautious.  The dog may do this when no one is home and could not get out, it would be a terrible tragedy for your family. 

​The fur on your fur-babies protects against the sun and grooming will have a positive impact on your dog’s comfort.
 
Using de-shedding brushes to remove loose hair, and clipping the coat down will be a relief for your dog.  You can always as our staff at Bloomingtails to assist you in the right clip for your dog.

SIGNS TO LOOK FOR:
* Heavy Panting
* Difficulty Breathing
* Fatigue
* Drooling
* Vomiting
* Diarrhoea

If your furbaby is due for a groom, contact us today to make sure they feel lighter, happier and stay cool. Regular dog grooming will ensure both your and your dog have the best time together this summer 🐶 💞

HOHOHOHO We all know this time of year can be a busy one for you and your family so we thought we would share a few important reminders to keep your precious furry family safe.
 
The holiday period is a particularly busy time for everyone and your fur-kids have had routine and rest. Although with kids at home, people visiting your furry family may go a little unnoticed at times. They get extra treats under the table, they get left alone at times, they may even find tinsel a joyous treat to eat or play with.
 
These things might be stressful for your dog.  They may hide or shy away, even run away.  There are some simple things to help your pup through this festive time.
 
1. Stay on schedule.  Keep your walking and eating routine as much as possible.  Keep up the hugs and bed times.
2. Offer your dog a place to go if things get tense.  Put their bed in a quiet room so they can go and have a nap and relax.
3. Meet and greet your dog with others. Try to allow your dog to initiate the meeting and give them time to smell and feel safe.
 
"We all know this time of year brings us so many yummy treats and joy but our furry friends can't always eat what we eat!! 
 
HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT FOOD & FESTIVE TIPS TO KEEP THEM SAFE
 
10 CHRISTMAS FOOD OR TREATS THAT ARE TOXIC & TO AVOID ~
 
1) Christmas pudding
2) Chocolate
3) Ham 
4) Cooked Chicken bones or Turkey bones 
5) Nutmeg
6) Onions 
7) Garlic
8) Gravy
9) Nuts
10) Dough and yeast

 Our pups are inquisitive and so playful so here are some of our tips to keep them safe during the festive season.
​
Be mindful of your Christmas tree and those sparkling wonderful ornaments. Your pups can hide under the tree like a den and get all playful with the leads and lights.  Also, ribbon on gifts can cause an obstruction in your pups tummy if they ingest it so keep a close eye on them around the tree and gifts and try to Limit their ability to access of your Christmas tree.  Teach them early that the tree is not a welcome treat.  They will then understand that it is not to be touched by telling them to “leave it” when they go near it.  
 
If your dog loves to beg for food, Christmas time is the time that the bad behaviour can be reinforced by family and or friends treating your dog.  They can get stomach upsets or pancreatitis.  Try to keep the food routine for your dog as much as possible.  If you don’t allow begging at any time, ask your family and friends to keep up the training by not feeding them at the table.
 
Lastly, New years eve fireworks. Be super mindful during new years eve to keep your pets indoors and secure and safe at all times as fireworks can cause your pets anxiety and they may escape or get injured during this time. Place some soft music and or the television on to keep your pets happy and distracted  during the evening.
 
If things are potentially too much: speak to us about our K9 Culture Puppy & Obedience School following the Christmas and new year period.  We can help out with your spoilt puppy's and introduce new and great training.
​
Call Mary on 0400 312 187

With soaring temperatures expected for this weekend, it’s important for everyone to keep their fur babies cool and stay safe. For many dogs, it will be too hot to go 'walkies' or to be outside, so it's best to allow them inside where its coolest and have access to tiles to lie on. If you don’t have air-conditioning, put a fan on and make sure your fur baby has access to cool fresh water at all times.  You could even add a few ice cubes to keep the water cold or make your very own frozen dog treats! 
Across the weekend, be sure to keep a close eye on your dog and look for any signs of heatstroke. Heat stress and heatstroke are real risks for dogs in this kind of weather, and this is especially dangerous with brachycephalic dogs, such as Boxers, Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus, Pekinese, etc.  Additionally, dogs with long and thick coats feel the heat easily too as their fur coats retain heat, making warm temperatures even more uncomfortable. 

Symptoms to look out for include:

• Heavy panting
• Difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Seizures.

If you see any of these symptoms, put a wet towel around their neck and groin area and take your dog to your closest veterinary hospital, immediately.

If your furbaby is due for a groom, contact us today to make sure they feel lighter, happier and stay cool. Regular grooming will ensure both you and your dog have the best time together this Summer! 🐶 🐾