Your Special Pet Series | Lucy the rescue Cavalier.

This is the first part of new series titled - Your Special Pet. Simply send us why you think your dog should be featured and you could see your pooch here next week.

Our first Special Pet is a remarkable very resilient little Cavalier called Lucy. Here's her story as told by her owner Lisa.

I adopted Lucy just under 2 years ago, she had been used on a puppy farm for many years with no regard for her health or well being. When I first went to meet Lucy it was heartbreaking, she was a tiny 3.5kg, skin and bones with bald patches to her fur, stained feet from being kept on a urine covered floor, her skin smelt of burning flesh from the ammonia from her urine burning her skin. She had fused hips and a severely arched back, all due to the appalling conditions she would have been kept in. When Lucy’s fosterer gave Lucy to me for a cuddle, she really wasn’t interested, she was withdrawn and just wanted to get back in her bed with the other dogs, canine company was all she had ever known.

That was just under 2 years ago now and Lucy has transformed into the most amazing dog you could ever meet, it goes to show rescue dogs are the most resilient, courageous dogs, they just need some patience, love and a home to call their own. Lucy now has her own Facebook page which I initially started to help raise awareness of her story and her horrific start to life, but I never imagined she would get the following she has. To date she has nearly 7,000 followers from all over the world and ‘Lucy’ posts pictures everyday with what she’s been up to. Lucy suffers with some health issues and will let her friends on Facebook know if she’s been poorly and the support and love for her at difficult times is just overwhelming.

Lucy has achieved so much, she was named Heroic Hound at the National Pet Show in Birmingham in September for her bravery, she is the star of her own quirky 2015 fundraising calendar, which we wanted to do to raise awareness of just how amazing rescue dogs are. All the funds raised were split between PupAid and the rescue centre Lucy was from.

We are in the process of having some wristbands printed to raise awareness of puppy farming, as so many people still don’t know about the horrific trade and our next project is to do a children's book, educating them about rescue dogs and responsible ownership by telling Lucy's story.

Lucy's friends on her social media pages often comment how a simple post or picture brightens their day. This really encapsulates what Lucy has achieved, from being a dog with probably no name or ever having any love, to brightening the lives of others through a simple post or picture.

Want you pet to featured next week. Simply head over to our Facebook Page to find out how.

Jessica and Lottie

Product Review: Wag N' Go Dog Travel Bag and Discount Code!

Lottie will very often go over to Grandma's whilst I'm at the hospital and every time we hand over the lead you will hear her shouting down the drive "anybody would think you are dropping a baby off with this amount of stuff". It really does amaze me the amount of stuff you need to carry around with you when you travel with your dog. Why would you invest so heavily in your dog and not consider how you are going to carry their things around.

Well Wag N' Go have come up with a brilliant solution. A duffle bag for dogs (and not just any ordinary duffle bag either). You guys will be amazed how much functionality this little bag has.

About Wag  N' Go

Wag N' Go is founded by Trina. Like many first time dog owners she really underestimated the amount of items you need to carry out with you. After many trips around the world and packing up a large bag of dog essentials that was larger than her own luggage, she thought there had to be an easier way. She wanted a travel kit that:

• Gave her dog the comforts of home.
• Packaged in an easy and stylish travel bag.
• Would work on a vacation, a trip for the day to the office or when her dog was staying over at friends.

And so the Wag N' Go travel bag was born.

So I hear you ask - What's inside the Wag N' Go Bag?

When the parcel arrived neither of us could wait to see what was inside. Wouldn't it be handy for the both of us if at a moments notice Lottie was ready to go. Well let's see what's inside...



Come on Mum let's open it!



I think you forgot to fill them mum!

A handy poo bag holder and mesh pockets. Ideal to hold our clicker.



What do you mean. I can't eat it all!

Just a taste wont hurt.

Who would of thought all of this could fit inside. I can even take my favourite teddy.

Mum isn't that a great idea. Now we can go out on our own.

Our Verdict.

We think the Wag N' Go travel bag is a must have item for all dog owners. This handy little duffle bag really does cut down your dog's travel bag in half. It has so many uses including  holidays, day trips, staying with friends, and even as an emergency doggy bag in earthquake prone regions. Now we know this is not the 'usual' use but we love the clip on the back as it means it can be clipped to the back of my wheelchair meaning I can take Lottie out independently. That's a huge bonus for us! The bowls are great and are certainly water tight (I made sure I put them through their paces). They are a great size and can definately hold at least a weekend's supply of food for a small dog like Lottie. The blanket which is lovely and soft, provides an ideal sleeping blanket or sofa cover when visiting friends. Lottie could even fit one of her doggy friends on with her as well.  Even when the blanket is folded up inside there is still plenty of room to house a few toy favourite's making sure your pet feels settled where ever they are going. The padded handle make sure you are kept comfy too. Lastly the handy poo bag holder and mesh pockets make sure you don't forget those all important essentials.  

Woof Rating

Lottie and I give it a massive 5 out of 5 in her woof rating. It means Lottie will always have her essentials and I can strap it to the back of my wheelchair and off we go.  

Discount Code - £10 off for all readers

So that you guys can experience the Wag N' Go for yourself. Trina has very kindly offered our readers a discount code. Simple enter WAGGYTALES at the checkout to receive £10 off your order. A bargain in anybody's eyes! To browse their great range of products simply click here.


We received a Wag N' Go Travel bag from Wag N' Go at no charge in exchange for our honest and fair review of their products. All opinions expressed here are our own and truthful!

Hills Ideal Balance | Pet Shop Bowl Product Review

We were lucky enough to receive a email from Pet Shop Bowl asking us if we would like to review one of their brand new products. Of course we jumped at chance. Lottie loves trying new treats and toys.

So who are Pet Shop Bowl?

Here's what they have to say about the company.

PetShopBowl is a nationwide home delivery subscription service to pet food. We are a young company with a team of friendly, helpful staff dedicated to saving you time and money. All of our staff are pet owners so we understand the needs of other pet parents.

What many other pet business don't offer is there unique  Bottomless Bowl  concept which is offered at the checkout. We all have a busy lifestyle, its unfortunately just the way of the world these days. If like me you are trying to juggle full time study, a work placement and taking care of your dog, you will know what a challenge that can be! This is where Bottomless Bowl comes in. Bottomless Bowl is a simple reordering service. They understand all dogs have a different appetite so offer any frequency from 2 - 12 weeks. But I hear you ask, what if there is a price increase ,well there's no hidden price rises. If the price of a product that you have subscribed to happens to increase, they will contact you to make sure that you still want to continue with your subscription, it really is that simple! They offer free UK delivery on all orders over the value of £19.99, as well as using a courier service which means you can change delivery time or day to whenever suits you best. 

So what did they send us? 

They sent us chicken and brown rice dry dog food from their brand new product range called Hill Ideal Balance. The range includes dry dog food, dog treats, wet dog food and dry cat food. Now Lottie is your typical Westie when it comes to food and can be very fussy. I on the other hand, am very aware of what I feed her. Westie's can suffer with skin allergies and certain food can irritate it more. Seen as Lottie suffers mildly I definitely am extra careful. So I was delighted to hear that Hill Ideal Balance has perfectly balanced nutrition and is made with the finest natural ingredients. They use chicken as their number one ingredient, meaning that there is no nasty added artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. All their product ranges have no wheat, maize or soy. So is great for dogs who have allergies to those. 

So what did we think?

Lottie absolutely loved it. Her current food is lamb and rice so I was originally a little concerned if she would like it. (The flavour they sent us was chicken and brown rice). But I needed not to of worried. As soon as I opened the cardboard box she couldn't wait to have a try. The bag has a handy seal which means that if like Lottie your dog is not a big eater there wont be any waste. It also comes in very handy if like us you haven't got a big enough container which will hold 12kg! The food itself it small hard piece and would easily suit any small or medium sized breeds. Although they really do cater for all sizes as they stock a small and large breed variety of the dry dog food. They also have a range for dogs over the age of 7 and of course not forgetting those puppies too! 

Our Verdict. 

We would highly recommend Hills Ideal Balance to any of our animal friends. It has all the qualities we look for in a good quality food. Lottie's gives it a massive 5 out of 5 in her woof rating, and with their bottomless bowl feature it will mean you never have to run out of dog food every again!. 

We received a box of goodies from Pet Shop Bowl at no charge in exchange for our honest and fair review of their products. All opinions expressed here are our own and truthful!

We're participating in the Pet Parade Blog Hop hosted by Rascal and Rocco, and co-hosted by Jan's Funny Farm, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking from the Bayou, and Love is being Owned by a Husky! - thanks guys!

Monday's Mischief | What a spooktacular night.

It was Halloween on Friday so of course I got up to lots of mischief. On Friday mum and grandma carved a pumpkin each. I did get a little taste, it was very yummy!

Once they had both finished Mum said it was photograph time (Not again mum!). She had brought me a cute little pumpkin coat so that I would match my new found friends. Although I was a bit unsure of the other pumpkins are first. They just sat there so still and didn't make ANY noise what so ever!

Mum said I was very cheeky once I put the pumpkin coat on and rolled around like a silly doggy. I said it deserves her right for wanting yet another photo opportunity. I mean honestly does she think I am a model or something!

This pumpkin tastes YUM!

Does my bum look big in this?

Come on mum, are we finished yet?

Of course though, the photo meant I got lots of yummy treats. I suppose there is always a positive side to everything. Whilst mum had her back turned I pinched a little bit of the cheese slice mum was giving me during the photograph. Needless to say she wasn't very impressed, but how could she shout at somebody dressed as a pumpkin! I definitely got away with that one!

We had several strangers knock at our door all wanting some goodies. Honestly, the cheek of them! Maybe I should try that in the future to see if it gets me a few extra biccies before bedtime. Mum said I was a very good girl and didn't bark once. Unfortunately it didn't get ME any extra biscuits!

We hope you all had a spooktacular Halloween night. We would love to hear what you guys got up to?

Lottie (And Jessica).



We've taken part in Monday Mischief blog hop hosted by Snoopy’s Dog Blog, Alfie’s Blog and My Brown Newfies

Fireworks Fear Series | How to prepare your pet for fireworks.

Here in the UK the dreaded night for pet owners is fast approaching. Remember, remember the 5th of November. Dogs remember it all right, and mostly for the wrong reasons. Fear!

According to the RSPCA more than 45 percent of dogs in the UK show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. 

It doesn't have to be that way so please don't ignore the problem. A firework phobia can be treated meaning your dog doesn't have to feel miserable every year. 

The best treatment you can offer is preparation. Here are a few simple things you can do to help your pet deal with fireworks. By preparing in advance before fireworks start your pet will be better able to cope with the noises.

Dogs go through stress at one time in the life and Lottie is no different. I really underestimated just how stressed she would be during a car journey. After many different methods, much to no avail. Our VET recommended a Pheromone Diffusers (No we hadn't heard of them either). They dispense the synthetic copy of the natural canine appeasing pheromone proven to help support dogs in a range of stressful situations. You can purchase them in a variety of different applications (collars, diffuse res, sprays) and are widely available in your local pet store. We couldn't believe the difference they made to Lottie, it didn't happen over night hence why we suggest you start it well before fireworks night. Here the brand that we highly recommend. 

Sound therapy for pets is another great tool that half of us don't use enough. There website can be found here. They offer a range of  downloadable audios that can be played when the dog is distracted and then increased in volume each time to desensitise the dog to that particular sound. 

A safe haven is a must for all dogs but even more important around firework night. You should provide you dog with a quiet area so choose one of the quietest rooms in your home. It should be a place where the animal feels it is in control, so don't interfere with it when it's in that area. Train your dog to associate the area with positive experiences e.g. by leaving toys there but not imposing yourself at any time. r giving them a tasty Kong with some extra special treats instead (some they only get when they are in there safe den. With time your dog can learn that this place is safe and enjoyable. So when fireworks happen it may choose to go here because it knows that when it is here, no harm will come to it and so it's more able to cope. It is important that your dog has access to its doggy safe haven at all times even when you’re not at home. 

Lottie safe haven. 

They are just a few of our handy tips to help you guys prepare for fireworks night. Please don't forget your other pets too, especially if they are outside. 

Have you guys got any top tips to help your pet cope with fireworks. We would love to hear them. 

Jessica and Lottie. 

This is part of the Adventure Dog Blog Hop hosted by yours truly, DOGthusiast and Tiffany’s Diamond Dogs. Clicking the little thumbnails down below will transport you to other doggy adventures.

Wordless Wednesday | I wish it could be Christmas everyday.

Mums been Christmas shopping and look what she got ME! Doggy mince pies. They certainly look very yummy.

She's been a right meany though and says I have to wait until the big day to try one. That's so not fair Mum. So in a quick attempt to get me a taste I came up with a cunning plan. I spied my chance whilst they lay there on the coffee table. I managed to nudge them off with my nose so I could get a better look. This unfortunately is how I was found out. When they fell off the table they made the biggest bang. Mum came to see what I was up to and obviously wasn't happen about my actions. I grabbed them before mum could and ran across the other side of the room. I made sure mum couldn't get them off me by hiding them under my leg. After a quick photo opportunity, mum put them back where she said they belonged. Evidently she didn't mean my belly.

Maybe I will have better luck with plan B, I just need to find the right moment.

Jessica and Lottie

This post is part of the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday blog hop. Hop around and see what others are doing today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday's Mischief | Autumn Walks.

After a traumatic couple of weeks things are finally starting to look up.

First Lottie had her stitches out on Friday! Yay, things can finally get back to normal! My mum says it likes having a child on smarties when Lottie cant have much exercise. Needless to say she has certainly made up for lost time.

I love autumn, the leaves dropping off the trees just make everywhere look so pretty. We are lucky enough to live in the countryside so have some postcard walks within walking distance.

Straight across the road from us is a lovely country lane which is so handy for a Sunday morning walk. Obviously these have been a bit scarce after Lottie's operation but not no more!

I only had to open the draw where the harness is kept and her tail was wagging in excitement. She bounded onto the sofa as if to say "Come on Mum, Lets go!".  Because of where Lottie's scar was I haven't been able to take her for a walk by myself for nearly a month. The Vet said that because I used a harness it would rub her scar so was best to keep to collar walks until her stitches came out. Now she isn't a big puller but when she does I always find it better to control her using her harness.

                                                                                                     

Somebody was very tired after all that walking and spent the rest of the afternoon having a well earned sleep. 

Jessica and Lottie. 

We've taken part in Monday Mischief blog hop hosted by Snoopy’s Dog Blog, Alfie’s Blog and My Brown Newfies

Wordless Wednesday - almost | Lumps and Bumps

Firstly we need to apologies. Blogging has taken a back seat over the last week. I have started back to University along with a work placement. Things have been a bit hectic to say the least!

As you guys will know from our Facebook page, Lottie has had a rough time over the last few weeks. It all started with the Vet finding a lump which had to be investigated. She had a biopsy done which came clear (thank goodness). Although the Vet did say that it would need to be removed as the lump would just get bigger. She had the operation last Friday and things went well.

She recovered well from the anaesthetic so was allowed home the same day. We definitely had a groggy little doggy that night. She just slept, slept and slept some more. Needles to say she woke up the next day feeling fine. Until her stitches come out in 2 weeks time she has to be calm! CALM! How can I possibly keep a three year old Westie calm? She can't jump so the sofa is off limits. Walks are restricted to five minutes, so we have a very hyper doggy at the moment.

Lottie is her t shirt to stop her scratching

She has been really good at taking at her medication which is a big relief. Of course the best medicine is lots of cuddle and believe me she has had more than her share over the last few days.

Now things are getting back to normal I can start to get back into a routine with Uni and the work placement so should be able to get more blog posts written.

We hope you guys are all OK?

Jessica and Lottie

This post is part of the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday blog hop. Hop around and see what others are doing today.