Author: Country Boarding Kennels

Our cat and dog service centre offers much more than you would expect. We have on-site kennel and cattery accommodation including luxury kennels, grooming parlour, hydrotherapy pool, 15 acre secure dog park, behaviour training assessment and puppy classes all provided by our experienced and qualified staff team.

Six Fun Ways to Exercise with Cats and Dogs

Posted on by Country Boarding Kennels
dog and cat boarding services

Maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle through physical exercise is crucial for many people, and especially so for their pets. If you own a cat or a dog, then you’ll know how important their health is. After all, our four legged friends are members of our family and so making sure they are fit and healthy is crucial for them to live the best life possible. Sadly, obesity is an epidemic which has reached epic proportions over the last decade or so, with more people currently classed as obese, or morbidly obese, than ever before.

Obesity can affect your quality of life, it leaves you susceptible to all manner of ailments and health issues. It turns out however, that it isn’t just us humans who are struggling with our weight. So too are our four-legged friends.

Many dogs and cats are also getting heavier and obesity in animals can be very serious and can lead to a whole host of health issues. Across the pond, 52.5 percent of dogs in the US are overweight or morbidly obese which shows that something has to change. For cats the number is even higher, with 59 percent in the US being classed as obese or overweight.

The good news when it comes to obesity is the fact that it can easily be undone with diet and exercise, and the same applies to your cats and dogs.

If you and your furry friend are interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, here’s a look at six fun ways to exercise with your cat and dog.

Go for a swim

Yes, you did read that right, we are indeed recommending that you go for a swim with your dog if the pair of you are looking to lose weight, providing you do so safely of course.

Swimming is a great cardiovascular workout that is great for the heart and great for weight loss. As an added bonus, it is also a low-impact form of exercise that is great for the joints. Obesity in owners and their dogs, can put pressure on the joints which is why joint issues such as arthritis are more common in people and animals that are overweight.

Providing you find a safe and suitable location, swimming with your dog is actually a whole lot of fun and is a great way to lose weight.

Go play ball

Let’s face it, if there’s one thing that dogs love to do, it’s play ball. This is very fortunate when it comes to losing weight because playing ball is a great form of exercise.

If you want your canine companion to shed those pounds, head to the nearest park or playing field with their favourite ball, throw it as far as you can over and over, and have them bring it back to you until they have used up a lot of their energy.

To help you get some weight off too, you might want to incorporate some light cardio in there too, perhaps by running around the field every so often.

Go for a walk

Perhaps the easiest and most common way for dogs and their owners to lose weight and get some exercise in is to go for a walk.

Dogs love going on walks, and walking is a fantastic form of cardio that will burn calories and contribute towards weight loss and aerobic fitness. As an added bonus, dog walking is also fairly low impact so it is much better on the joints than running.

Whether you’re going on a walk around the block, your local park, the beach, the countryside, or a hiking trail up in the mountains, walking is a great way for dog and owner to get fit together.

Hunting Prey

Your cat is a natural born hunter and they will retain their natural hunting instincts throughout their life. A great way of indulging their inner predator is to buy a small stuffed animal toy, usually attached to a piece of string and then play hide and seek with them. By wriggling the string you can imitate the movements of its prey and this will stimulate your furry feline in to charging at it and taking it down. This is a great exercise as it helps your cat to burn calories, use up their energy and exercise their joints. It’s also lots of fun!

Cat Towers

A cat tower is a great way of introducing exercise to your furry feline by allowing them to play, dangle, pounce and scale. These exercises will be a fun way for your cat to burn calories and use up plenty of energy!

Cat Diets

The internet is a great source of information but not all of it is helpful or accurate. If you have concerns about your cat’s weight you should consult your vet who will be able to offer solutions.

Hopefully this article covering cats and dogs exercise has been helpful. At Country Boarding for Cats and Dogs we understand the importance of ensuring your cat and dog lives a healthy and happy life. We have many years of experience providing a friendly and professional dog walking service, cattery and dog boarding services for the Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire regions. Our friendly team will also happily collect in and around Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock and Royston. Call us today and our team will be happy to help you.

Joining The SME Climate Hub & Reducing our Carbon Footprint

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At Country Boarding for Cats and Dogs, we care passionately about protecting the environment and reducing our overall carbon footprint. In fact, we have even pledged to achieve a 50 % reduction in our carbon fuel emissions by the year, 2030! To ensure we hit this figure, we proudly joined the SME Climate Hub – an innovative and revolutionary climate action initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – dedicated to reducing carbon fuel emissions.

The ground-breaking SME Climate Hub has helped to inspire many small and medium-sized businesses, just like ours to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% before 2030. So far we are on target to meet this eco-friendly business goal!

Since joining this government climate initiative, we have been able to gain access to eco-friendly tools and resources that have really helped us in our quest to reduce our carbon fuel emissions. We now have two fully electric vans which are charged on site using power generated by our extensive solar panels arrays. This means zero emissions when we drive. We also have a large Tesla battery on site which charges up when the sun shines and we use the stored power at night. This dramatically cuts energy we use throughout the year.

As part of this initiative, many other SME’s are also turning towards greener ways of operating, with many waving goodbye to petrol powered cars and saying hello to electrically charged work vehicles.  In creating the SME Climate Hub, the founders have discovered a great opportunity to facilitate emissions reductions on a national and global scale. We really are excited to be joining this SME green initiative!

Recently, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has shown his governments’ support for a greener Britain:

“Every step that a small business takes on their journey to net zero adds up – not only in protecting the health of the planet but also in future-proofing their business and encouraging new investment, new customers and new opportunities for growth.

We are providing the support and advice small businesses need to join us and become leaders in the fight against climate change.”

With so many SMEs like ours becoming more sustainable and more focused on reducing carbon fuel emissions, we can look forward to hopefully seeing an even bigger impact later on down the road to help protect the future of our planet.

Did you find this eco-friendly article helpful? At Country Boarding for Cats and Dogs we are more than just a friendly and professional dog walking service for the Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire regions. We also care passionately about the environment and want to ensure our business does everything it can in helping to reduce our carbon footprint. If you found this article helpful or have any questions on how we can assist you and your dog or cat, then please call our friendly staff today who are waiting to receive your call. Call 01462 742658 or send us an email office@cbkennels.co.uk for dog walking in Hertfordshire. 

6 Dog Walking Tips

Posted on by Country Boarding Kennels

When it comes to walking your four legged friend, it’s not only a great way for you to keep fit but it’s also a great way for them to learn good behaviours whilst exploring the world around them. Read the following six dog walking tips below to ensue your canine companion gets the most out of their daily walks. Enjoy!

Change the Pace

Sometimes changing the pace of your dog walk is a great way of enjoying the scenery around you. It’s also a great chance for your furry friend to take in a new smell or explore something they have spotted. Likewise, if you prefer a more leisurely stroll, then why not try introducing a higher intensity? By changing the pace of your dog walk, you are slowly training your dog to become more alert, more focussed and allowing them to remain closer to you at all times.

Exploration. Exploration. Exploration

Your dog is a natural born explorer and very inquisitive. They say variety is the spice of life, so why not explore new trails the next time you take your dog out for a walk. Introducing a new corner of your walk is a great way of doing this.

Include Training Exercises

Dog walking is also a great opportunity to introduce different training exercises. Dog training doesn’t have to always take place at home. Dog training exercises on a walk are highly recommended for any breed and for any age. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?! We offer a variety of assessments and courses at our dog training centre in Hertfordshire to address a wide range of issues your dog may be experiencing.

Walking and Playing

The next time you walk your dog why not bring along their favourite toy to add some fun to the mix. Playing fetch with a Frisbee or a ball is a great way to bond with your dog whilst also helping to build their concentration and discipline.

Socialising

Dog walking is a great way of socialising your dog with other canines. The more exposure your dog has with other dogs, the more comfortable they will become in social situations over time. When your dog goes for a walk, they’ll also use up plenty of energy from exercising their limbs and therefore tend to be a lot calmer when meeting up with other canines. However, always approach dogs which you do not know with caution as they may be reactive. Ask the owner how their dog reacts to others before letting your dog get in close.

Hopefully this dog walking article has been helpful. At Country Boarding for Cats and Dogs we have many years of experience providing a friendly and professional dog walking services for the Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire regions. Our friendly dog walking team will even collect in and around Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock and Royston. Call our friendly dog walking staff today who are waiting to receive your call.

Call 01462 742658 or send us an email office@cbkennels.co.uk for dog walking in Hertfordshire. 

Buying a Puppy in Lockdown – What to Know first

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As Lockdown continues and many of us are working from home, more and more people are considering this to be the perfect time to buy a puppy.

Lockdown has caused record numbers of searches for ‘puppies for sale’, in fact; The Kennel Club says searches for puppies on their website doubled between February and March 2020 when the first lockdown was announced. Furthermore, this ‘puppy boom’ has prompted many breeders to raise their prices to an all-time high.

If you are thinking of buying a puppy during lockdown, it is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Before you start your search, here are some important points to consider…

Restrictions

It is important to remember that lockdown and social distancing restrictions will make buying a puppy more difficult. Not only because you may have to travel to collect one, but also because you will need to see the puppy in the seller’s home. It is always recommended that you view a puppy where it has been raised and with its mother. This is so that you can be sure the animal has been properly cared for and you are not buying from an unreputable ‘puppy farm’.

Cost

Cost is a huge consideration when buying a puppy. The price of puppies has more than doubled during lockdown, with popular breeds selling for £3,000 or more. Expensive? Yes! And this is before you have even factored in veterinary and insurance costs. Vets are seeing lots of new pet owners unable or reluctant to cover the additional costs needed for vaccinations, neutering and flea treatment. And don’t forget food and other accessories, such as bedding and toys.

Time

Puppies are incredibly rewarding in many ways, however they are also very demanding of time. You may have lots of time to care for a puppy now, but what about when you return to work and school, and going on holiday? It is important to think about this before you buy a puppy. Who will care for it when things return to normal? Can you afford the help of a dog walker, sitter or boarding kennels in the future?

Stress

Many say that getting a new puppy is a lot like bringing home a new baby. At the beginning you will have sleepless nights and you will always need to keep your eye on them.  This on top of working from home, your usual household chores and home-schooling can become incredible stressful. So it is crucial to ask yourself “Can I deal with this additional responsibility right now?” before buying a puppy.

A puppy is for life, not just for lockdown

Remember, a puppy is a lifetime commitment. Please think very carefully about whether you can properly care for a dog, not just now, but also in the future when lockdown is lifted. If you do believe now is the right time, then you could also consider adopting a dog from an animal shelter, where there are still thousands of animals waiting for a new home and it should save you a lot of money.

We are 5 Star Winners – it’s Official

Posted on by Country Boarding Kennels

Kennel of the Year

PIF Awards Winners Logo

On 9th November, the Pet Industry Federation announced the winners of all the categories of its prestigious awards competition for 2020. Country Boarding for Cats and Dogs were winners of the Kennel of the Year Award 2020. Amongst many criteria, the judges were looking for – high standards of animal welfare, high quality staff training and qualifications, excellent customer service. We were thrilled to have our efforts recognized at such a high level.

See the video we made to celebrate our award

Our success was featured on ITV Anglia News

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-11-14/a-pet-kennels-prestigious-award-as-it-tries-to-survive-the-pandemic

5 Star Licence Rating

On 18th November, we were visited by the local authority licensing officer who awarded us 5 star ratings for our kennels and day care facilities. What a way cap off 2020 and cheer us all up. Call in to see us soon or phone 01462 742658.

Training while Boarding Autumn 2020 Offer

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Training

We are pleased to announce a new midweek ‘training while boarding’ offer!

If you need help training your dog; we can help. Make a booking which includes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights and we will provide our ‘training while boarding’ service free of charge.

Issues covered are: recall, stay, sit, down and loose lead walking.

During your dog’s holiday, we will take videos of some of the exercises and offer verbal feedback when you check out.

This offer is limited and bookable on a first come first served basis commencing 29th September.

This offer is not suitable to deal with complex behavioural issues. However, we can still help with other courses which includes, ‘training while boarding’ (outside the offer) or 1-2-1 training on-site or at your home.

Grooming

Alternatively, why not take advantage of our midweek ‘bath while boarding’ offer commencing 29th September!

Make a booking which includes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights and benefit from a free Bath while boarding. A Bath can be upgraded to a Full Groom if requested with the difference payable. Save up to £25.00 on our normal grooming fees. The Full Groom or Bath must be taken during the boarding period. This offer is limited and bookable on a first come first served basis commencing 29th September.

Call us on 01462 742658 to make a booking today!

How Can you Calm your Dog for Grooming?

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Dog Grooming

For some dogs, unknown or foreign stimuli can put them in a state of anxiety or fear. Bringing your pet into grooming for the first time can be a very daunting experience for them, they are going to have to go through noises such as clippers, hairdryers and scissors. All the while, there will be plenty for them to be distracted by. New people, new smells, other dogs will all be a factor; they are going to have to be ready and receptive to being touched all over. For some dogs, this can be a stressful experience.

So why bother taking them for grooming in the first place? Well, grooming helps dogs with skin conditions, helps maintain their coat, whether it be matted or overgrown. There are some breeds of dog where not grooming is not an option. A few examples of these would be:

  • Afghan Hounds,
  • Australian Shepard,
  • Bearded Collie,
  • Bouvier des Flandres,
  • Bichon Frise,
  • Cairn,
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and
  • Chinese Crested.

Find the rest of these breeds in the article which dog breeds need the most grooming.

If you have a dog which requires grooming, but they are becoming nervous, there are ways to calm them before you bring them to a groomer. There are also general behaviour training techniques which will help with your dog’s anxiety. We have shared some of these techniques here.

Get Your Dog Used to the Attention

Going to a groomer is going to require your dog to be touched all over. As the groomer works their way around with scissors, clippers and comb, your pet will have to get used to being handled.

In this case, it is wise to get your dog used to being pampered or getting this sort of human attention. You can massage or pet your dog more frequently in the lead up to a grooming session, or keep your dog used to this type of care. This way, when it comes to strangers petting your pet all over, it is unlikely to raise the same level of anxiety. If pampering is not rewarded enough for your dog, you can always compensate them with treats.

If your dog is already showing adversity to being touches or pet in certain places, there may be another reason for their reaction – consult a vet for clarity.

Introduce Grooming Tools

Another way to pre-empt a nervous response is to test your pet with the grooming tools they will likely be facing. Clippers, scissors and combs can be introduced to your dog – get them used to the sound of these tools and the feel of the comb. This way, you can reward as you see necessary.

If your dog appears nervous, but they comply with being introduced, praise them, and reward them suitably. If your dog shows excessive nervousness, there may be some behaviour that needs a professional to look at and assess.

Allow Your Dog Time to Acclimatise to the Car

If you are not regularly transporting your pet by car, it might be worthwhile allowing time for them to acclimatise to a vehicle. By not doing so, you may be allowing for anxiety from the car to transfer into the grooming visit.

Also, nausea associated with the journey might affect your pet’s temperament in the salon. Ensuring your dog can deal with the drive before the session is wise; if your dog does struggle with travel nausea, consult your vet for the best form of treatment.

Keep Your Dog Well Exercised

Just as a general rule, your dog should be walked regularly. Some breeds will need more exercise than others. It is vital for your dog’s physical wellbeing and mental health. A dog with too much energy that it cannot expel is more likely to be anxious, restless and generally more of a handful.

If you want your dog to exhibit the best behaviours, then keep them tired!

Muzzle Training

If your pet has been known to get aggressive or bite, muzzle training them correctly will not only put your dog more at ease around strangers but will put the groomers at ease too!

Get your dog to put their nose into the muzzle by popping a treat into the end of it; liquid treats work well here so that the treat does not fall out as you secure the muzzle.

As a Last Resort – Consult your Vet about Over-the-Counter Medication

There are over-the-counter medications that can help nervous dogs by acting as a level of sedation. Drugs like Acepromazine can give your pet 6-8 hours where they will not suffer from anxiety surrounding thunder, fireworks or suchlike, it also aids nausea, stabilises heart rhythm and lowers blood pressure.

For Professional Grooming Services

We have been working with dogs for many many years, and we know that a safe and secure dog is a happy dog. Our professional and friendly staff are ready and waiting to help your pet feel at home, and make sure they are as comfortable as possible during and after their grooming session. Why not call today to find out more?

How to Train a Dog to not Bark

Posted on by Country Boarding Kennels

Before we get into training techniques, it is best to get one thing straight – dogs are going to bark. Unless you are going to be the proud owner of a Basenji, bred from stock that originated in central Africa, one of the only known dogs to not be able to bark, there are going to be times where your pooch barks. It is in their nature, and to expect your dog never to bark is being unreasonable. 

Interested in Dog or Puppy Behaviour Training?

What is not unreasonable, however, is wanting to train your dog to control or reduce its barking. Whether it is to save your ears, the neighbours’ ears, from others mistaking barking for aggression or another reason, there are techniques you can follow to keep your dogs barking controlled. 

Another thing to know initially is that the longer your dog has been barking, the harder it is going to be to train it out of them. So get ready to be patient with your pet. Consistency is vital; if your dog is getting mixed messages from you, your family or extended carers, then they are going to become confused. When you are training a dog, no matter what it is, having consistency from everyone that comes into contact with your dog is best. Raising your voice and shouting over your dog to quiet them might be a short term solution, but it will not remove the reason for your dog’s barking. It is the reason that they are barking that you need to understand before you can effectively train them to stop doing it. But trying to be the most prominent voice in the room your dog is going to find any commands harder to understand and might think you are joining in. Try the following techniques and give them time to have an impact. 

Remove the Motivation for Barking 

If your dog is barking out of the window frequently, or when they are in the garden, try to remove their motivation for barking. For instance, close the curtains until they stop, and then praise them when they do. Similarly, if they are barking in the garden, bring them inside (this will require a level of recall that will need to be embedded prior). Once they come inside and stop barking, praise them and give them a fitting treat. 

Removing their motivation and praising them when they stop barking could work well in getting your dog to understand you appreciate it. 

Ignore your Dog Until They are Quiet

While this can come across as just ignoring the issue altogether, ignoring a behaviour you are not happy with is much better than getting angry or aggressive. You want to instil an understanding and trust within your dog. If they are rewarded when they cease barking, the positive reinforcement will begin to make an impact on their behaviour until you no longer need to reward them. 

This tactic can be trying if your dog barks for a very long period it can be very difficult not to shout out. If you find yourself at breaking point, try removing the dog’s stimulus or make them move away from the situation that is making them bark. 

Desensitise them to Barking Stimulus 

If you find that certain stimuli is making your dog bark time after time, teaching them to relax when this stimulus occurs in an option. If it is people walking past your window, for instance, get a friend to do this, and reward your dog each time they ignore them. If every time people get within a certain distance, your dog barks, have your friend approach slowly and reward your dog for taking no interest at each instance. This will not be resolved in one go, and repetition and consistency are key here. 

The same type of training goes for sounds that set your dog off, try recording these sounds on your phone. Play them, but increase the volume each time. Each time you play the audio, and if your dog does not bark, reward and praise them. 

Teach Them an Incompatible Command

Another technique you could try is teaching your dog a command that is incompatible with barking. Barking can be a protective, dominant, attention-seeking or fearful reaction. If, for instance, your door bell goes and your dog is barking, teach them a counter-intuitive command like returning to their bed, or lying down. When your dog follows these commands reward them, but only if they stop barking. 

Remaining calm while you give commands and not appearing to be in a fluster will also help your pet understand and eventually reciprocate the calm of these operations. If every time you answer the door, you are running or fumbling; your dog may learn the wild nature of an entrance to your home and act up. 

Calmly request they follow another command, answer the door and reward them when they are quiet. 

Do Not Turn to any Shock or Bark Collar 

Do not be fooled into thinking that bark collars, or worse, shock collars, are an answer to the problem. If anything, these collars add another obstacle to the situation and are highly likely to make an anxious dog worse. When dogs bark, there is a reason. If you learn the reason and aim to tackle it, you will be doing far better than a collar which looks to distract or scare the dog out of what it will feel is a natural response. 

Dog and Puppy Training When You Need it Most 

If you have tried all the above techniques and none of them is working, it may be that your dog needs some help with their behaviour. It could also be that you need to learn how dogs behave and your place in helping the control that. Contact Country Boarding today, our friendly and professional staff are here to help with dog and puppy training. We can visit, or you can come to classes.

Any questions? Get in contact today to further discuss your needs. Or, directly call us from a mobile.