Sweet William is looking for his forever home

This is William, the most adorable Staffordshire Bull Terrier!

William is 7 years old and he came into rescue via the dog warden and even though his owners knew where he was they never reclaimed him.

Luckily for him he was taken in by Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue (www.sbtrescue.co.uk) and he has been living with a foster family. He is a true gentleman and is sharing his home with 2 Bulldogs and a French Bulldog.

Williams gets on well with other dogs, is great with humans and adores children. He will make someone a wonderful pet and would love to find his forever retirement home soon. He is an active and healthy dog and loves a bone from the butchers as a treat.

William is fully vaccinated, castrated and flee treated.

If you feel you can give William the retirement home he needs please contact the rescue on 01945474418 or staffylover@btinternet.com

Staffordshire Bull Terrier rescue is a voluntary organisation and registered charity, who through a team of wonderful people with huge hearts help rescue many Staffies in need. If you would like to help please go to the website to donate or volunteer

Puppy or Rescue?

This is the first in a series of blogs all about being a first time dog owner ...

When you decide to bring a dog into the family it is very exciting. Especially if its the first time you have ever had a dog, it is really easy to be impulsive and go out and get the first puppy that you see but getting a dog is a huge decision and one which takes planning and preparation.

Throughout this series we will bring you information on lots of aspects of getting a dog, from choosing through to bringing him / her home, training, feeding ....

The first decision you have to make is whether to get a puppy or a rescue?

We have done both and I wouldn't change a thing about that, I love all three of mine and each one is very special to me, we welcomed 2 in as puppies and 1 as a rescue.

When we welcome more dogs into the family however I would only ever rescue, having a rescue dog is so special, the love they give you is amazing and the opportunity to give a dog a second chance just feels right.

Many people think rescue dogs are going to come with a whole host of problems whether physical or behavioural but the majority of dogs in rescues are normal, healthy dogs who have no home. They will come into your home, love you unconditionally and settle into their role as loved family pet.

There are some dogs out there who through abuse and neglect do have problems but if you are working with a good rescue then they will have assessed that dog and already started woring with it, they will be looking for the right home based on what that dog needs. They will discuss this with you, ensure you can give the dog what it needs and support you if you do take a dog like this.

Remember, if you get a dog with a problem that with hard work, stability and love that dog can learn new ways and change.

So. here are some things to think about when opening your heart to a rescue:

• Do your research first, think about what kind of breeds and size of dog will suit your family - its easy to fall in love with the wrong dog!
• Once you know what breed(s) you are interested in then go to rescues and look for that breed or similar
• Consider what age range you want - rescues often have puppies but there are also some wonderful older dogs who make wonderful pets and are often overlooked
• Good rescues will back you up, that means they will be there for advice, support and guidance throughout the dogs life if you need it
• Never feel sorry for a dog no matter what has happened, this is the start of a new life so focus on giving your dog the very best in care, training and love - your dog doesn't dwell on the past!
• Go and visit the dog and take all members of the household. Go for a walk, get to know the dog before making a decision and don't feel guilty if you meet a dog and its not for you. The best thing you can do is find the right dog for you, the rescue will find the right home for all the others.

In our next post we will look at picking the right breed of dog for you, what to consider and what to look for. In future posts we will also be looking at specific breeds such as The Staffordshire Bull Terrier as well as what to consider when rescuing a giant breed and an older dog.

Arthritis - what you need to know

Arthritis affects many dogs and their owners across the UK, particularly at this time of year when the weather is colder. It can be very painful, but with the right care can be managed and most dogs live with it for many years happily.

Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint, generally where there has been an injury or trauma, on an X-Ray you would see the joint looking fuzzy rather than clear bone definition. Its the inflammation that causes the pain and this can result in stiffness and slower movement.

So how can you help your dog if you suspect he or she has arthritis?

• Always see your vet to get this diagnosed, Arthritis can be secondary to other conditions which your vet can help you treat, or in fact it might not even be arthritis.
• If it is arthritis, ensure you keep your pet warm. If you keep your pet outside you might want to bring them into the home particularly in the winter
• Don’t over do it on walks, smaller more frequent walks are sometimes better. Your dog will let you know when he/she is struggling.
• Invest in a coat, something warm and thermal to keep your pet warm
• Often stiffness can be apparent after sleeping, ensure your pet has a comfortable bed. Orthopaedic with memory foam are better as they support the joints and allow your pet to get a good nights sleep
• Hydrotherapy is a great way to strengthen the joints and muscles, and the hydrostatic qualities of water can help with pain relief. Always pick a good, accredited therapist who is in the water with your pet
• Massage therapy is another great way to ensure your pets muscles are healthy, this allows the blood to flow to the bones and joints more efficiently therefore increasing movement. Again pick an accredited massage therapist
• Magnetic collars are a great way to help, the magnetic pulse aids healing and provides relief
• There are a range of holistic products on the market all of which are designed to help with conditions such as arthritis:
• Glucosamine Chondrotin helps maintain the health of the cartilage on the bones
• Devils Claw is natures anti inflammatory and can provide pain relief as a result

If in doubt always speak to your vet.

We provide a range of products and services to help dogs with arthritis. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Poor Neglected Blog!

We didn't get much time to update this blog in 2010 as we were still working full time however we are pleased to announce that this year we are full time.
We have had such fantastic support in 2010 to make this possible so thank you!

This is the first of many blog posts covering training tips, health information, book reviews, product reviews, rescue stories & special offers.

We are also delighted to announce that we are expanding, our website is being revamped for 2011 as we speak and we will be relaunching as a full e-commerce site stocking everything you need for your pet including food.

We wont just be offering dog products, look for our new ranges for cats, horses, fish and small furries. We will be launching our new site in early February!

So please let everyone know about us and remember to sign up for the newsletter on our website here