Almost Half Of Britain's Dogs Can Expect A Special Christmas Lunch

Christmas is a time the whole family is together, a time to enjoy and cherish the memories made and it seems Britain's dog owners are taking this message to heart as a new survey reveals.

The UK's lucky canines can expect to enjoy the festive season as much as their owners as an incredible 49% of owners will be preparing them their very own special doggie dinner on the big day.

According to the recent survey carried out on behalf of Direct Line Pet Insurance, of the 1,021 dog owners questioned, almost half (49%) are planning to make a special Christmas meal for their dogs and with 46% planning a special family walk with their dog, it will soon be walked off!

Adam Whiteley, head of pet insurance at Direct Line, offered this advice to dog owners: "Dog owners going to the trouble of cooking a special Christmas dinner for their best furry friend are clearly doing so out of love and festive spirit. It's worth remembering that there are a few things dogs shouldn't eat at all, even on special occasions, as doing so can make them very ill or even cause death in extreme cases. Chocolate, raisins, onions, and added salt should all be avoided, as should sharp or small bones. It's a good idea to make sure that all food items and treats are stored well out of reach of pets, during the holidays and all year round."

According to the survey, 89% of Britain's dogs can expect a delivery from Santa left under the tree for them to spend the holidays enjoying.

40% Britain's dogs will have an average of £10 GBP on presents spent this year with a lucky 9% having gifts worth more than £100 GBP awaiting them.

Toys are the most favoured present of choice, but pampering with collars, leads and clothes also top the list of most desired presents.

However, with 26% of Britain's dogs enjoying chewing presents, it might be advisable to make sure Santa's little four legged helpers have someone keeping an eye out for them.

K9 Magazine editor Ryan O'Meara offered this thoughts on the findings, “The fact that nearly half of all dog owners are preparing to fully include their canine pals in the Christmas festivities is indicative of just how much the relationship between pets and their owners has changed in modern times. Dogs are now considered fully fledged members of the family and this research highlights just how seriously owners take that relationship. Dogs bring us so much joy every day, it's nice to hear that owners take great delight in including them at this special time.”

Two rabbits dumped outside Pets at Home

Two lop-eared albino rabbits were found dumped outside a Pets at Home store in Llandudno in the early hours of this 02.11.11.

Staff arriving early to open the store alerted the RSPCA after discovering the two white adult male rabbits in a large brown box outside.

The box had holes in it and writing on the top. The rabbits were of a healthy condition but were covered in urine, and were left with food but no water.

On checking CCTV footage, the staff were able see that the rabbits were dumped at around 6.30am that morning, and were also able to capture footage of the perpetrator (a man in jeans and a jacket who arrived by
car) on camera.

RSPCA animal collection officer Will Galvin said: "Although the rabbits were left in a healthy condition outside a pet store, there is never any excuse for abandoning an animal.

“If you really feel that you can no longer look after a pet, you can seek advice from an animal welfare organisation.

"I would urge anyone who recognises the description of these rabbits to contact the RSPCA immediately."

Anyone with information is urged to contact the RSPCA cruelty and information line on 0300 1234 999. Calls will be treated in confidence.

That's Christmas: What would your dog tell you, this Christmas?

That's Christmas: What would your dog tell you, this Christmas?: Apart from: "I love you," that is? "I’ve got a bone to pick with you…. I’m sick of squeaky toys. I’m bored of bones. And that woolly dogg...

Confused.com and Dogs Trust study reveals how owners keep their dogs happy on car journeys

According to a new study into car owners and their pets by Confused.com, over one in three (39%) pet lovers takes their dogs or cats on car journeys with them regularly. Of those surveyed, 41% say their pets enjoy being in the car.

The Confused.com study reveals that listening to the radio helps pet owners keep their animals amused on longer journeys with Adele, Madonna and Lady Gaga being the most popular artists to keep pets happy on the move.

Some owners admit to singing to their pets to keep them amused. Apparently Radio 1 is the top choice for in-car pet entertainment, closely followed by Radio 2 and 5 Live.

Confused.com has teamed up with the charity Dogs Trust to help ensure dogs enjoy the car journey even more by avoiding travel sickness and staying safe. 12% of pet owning motorists say they let their dog stick his head out of the window on the journey but according to experts at Dogs Trust this is not a great way to keep your pet happy.

Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust said: "Dogs might really enjoy the sensation of having their heads out of the window but it is dangerous for them so we would always advise keeping ears, paws and noses inside the vehicle while the car is moving."

25% of pet owners who take their dog or cat in the car say that their animal enjoys the journey, as long as they keep them amused. Talking to them and taking plenty of their toys are the top ways that dog and cat lovers use to keep them happy.

Almost 10% of pet owners say they have almost had a near miss when driving because of their pet's behaviour in the car.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: "Road trips should be as fun for our pets as they can be for us, and keeping our pets happy in the back is also going to reduce distraction for us as drivers, making our journeys safer for us and our animals."

Keeping canines safe and comfortable in cars – advice from Dogs Trust and confused.com

• 1. Make sure that your dog is safely restrained with a car harness, a travel crate or strong well fitting dog-guard. While there is currently no law that stipulates that a dog must be restrained whilst travelling in a vehicle, The Highway Code does offer advice on best practice.
• 2. If you're travelling abroad then you can find out about quarantine and the Pet Passport / Pet Travel Scheme from the DEFRA, website www.defra.gov.uk
• 3. Provide fresh drinking water at all times (non-spillable bowls are available) and make plenty of stops on your journey for him to stretch his legs and relieve himself. Never exercise your dog on the hard shoulder of a motorway – wait for a service station.
• 4. Never leave a dog alone in a car, especially on a warm or hot day. Ensure that the sun is not directly on him whilst you are travelling and try to make your journey during the coolest part of the day. If you use a sunshade attached to the window, make sure that it does not obscure your vision. Make sure that someone stays with your dog when you stop at a service station; a dog can die in a hot car within 20 minutes.
• 5. To reduce the likelihood of your pet suffering from car sickness, don’t feed your dog just before travelling. If your dog is due to be fed, offer a small amount, but ensure that it is at least an hour before travelling.
• 6. If your dog is travel sick, or does not travel well, seek advice from your vet, and only use medication prescribed specifically for your dog by your vet.
• 7. Find out if your vehicle recovery service will allow your dog to travel in the cab with you if you have a breakdown. It may not be safe for your dog to travel in your towed car. 
• 8. Don’t let your dog stick his head out of the window as passing vehicles could injure your pet, his eyes or ears could be damaged by particles in the air or he could try to jump out.
• 9. Did you know that the inside of a car legally constitutes a public place This means that anyone who is bitten when sticking his or her fingers through your car window could report you under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. If you have been ordered to keep your dog muzzled in public then you must muzzle him whilst he is in the car also. (This does not apply if the car is parked for example on a private drive).
• 10. If you're planning to take your dog with you on your holidays, there are some safety and welfare considerations. See the Dogs Trust website for more details.

The poll of 2000 drivers in the UK was carried out by Onepoll on behalf of Confused.com and all figures have been rounded up to the nearest 1%.

Confused.com was the UK's first price comparison site for car insurance. Confused.com is one of the biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, pet insurance quotes covering both dog insurance and cat insurance, travel insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance.

Urban Pup is off to see the wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Toto!

High fashion online retailer Urban Pup.com have been appointed pet partners to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sensational new musical, The Wizard of Oz. Urban Pup have been chosen to outfit Toto in a specially made sparkling Emerald Green Crystal Collar and Lead set!

Toto will appear on stage wearing the collar and lead set with Dorothy played by Danielle Hope. 19 year old Danielle is making her professional debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium after winning the BBC’s smash hit Over the Rainbow.

The show opens in 1930s America and in keeping with the mood for these early scenes Toto wears one of Urban Pup’s plain and smart brown collar and lead sets. However, when Toto and Dorothy reach the glittering Emerald City the characters get dressed up to the max, with Toto looking fantastic, debuting Urban Pup’s Emerald Green Crystal Collar and Lead set.

Urban Pup Managing Director Denis Kelly, who attended The Wizard of Oz musical said "The show was superb and so was Toto, he played his part to perfection and I am pleased to report that Urban Pup’s Green Crystal collar and lead set looked like a million dollars. Against the backdrop of the London Palladium plus an amazing set and with a wonderful cast Urban Pup’s Green Crystal collar and lead set fitted in perfectly."

Denis added, "We are delighted to be partners to this great show. As with all Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals anyone paying a visit to the world famous London Palladium will be in for a great evening’s entertainment, kids will love it and so will those big kids, better known as the parents!"

UrbanPup.com is an online retailer specialising in high fashion outfits and accessories for dogs. UrbanPup.com provides the fashion conscious with stylish unrivalled couture for pets. The range provides all the clothing and accessories that a dog would ever need from stylish coats and pretty dresses to stunning lead & collar sets. Each piece of clothing has been personally selected based on its design, quality and overall fashion appeal.

Visit www.urbanpup.com for more information.

New look pet insurance policies keep Petplan well ahead

With in excess of 250 pet insurance policies now in the market, the industry is becoming a minefield for pet owners with varying benefits and levels of cover often confusing them to a point where they think they’re getting lifetime cover but instead trapped with a restrictive policy.

However, to make it easier for pet owners to understand the types of cover available, Petplan the UK’s largest pet insurance provider, has launched a new look policy range which will also give pet owners more comprehensive cover.

Simon Masding, Petplan’s Head of Sales and Partnerships said since Petplan started 35 years ago the pet insurance market and vet industry has changed significantly, especially in the last few years.

“Advances in new technology and better diagnostics allowing vets to save and treat more pets means our policies need to evolve so that pets can continue to get the best possible treatment.”

To better understand these changing market dynamics Petplan undertook extensive research with vets, breeders, charities, customers and non-customers.

The feedback showed that despite having the most comprehensive policies in the market, it was important for Petplan to more clearly communicate their range of policies to shift away from the confusion created by other brands and meet the changing demands of pet owners better.

This has led to the specialist insurance provider simplifying their policy range, adding and increasing each policy’s benefits and developing easy to understand policy names.

Petplan’s new look policies for both cats and dogs are:

• Petplan Ultimate – Petplan’s most comprehensive Covered for Life® plan with exclusive additional benefits and up to £12,000 vet fee cover for complete peace of mind. Maximum protection for maximum reassurance.

• Petplan Classic – Petplan’s most popular plan providing comprehensive Covered for Life® pet insurance for accidents and chronic illnesses. The original Covered for Life® policy.

• Petplan Essential – providing high quality 12-month cover for accidents and illness. Petplan quality at an affordable price.

Zeta Frasca, owner and practicing vet at Kitten to Cat in Richmond London says a lot of pet owners find pet insurance really confusing to understand all the fine print especially with many insurance companies not making it clear that although your pet is insured they are not covered for life.

“These changes will not only make it clearer for the pet owner but it will also make it a lot easier for us as an industry to explain pet insurance to our clients, which is really important,” says Zeta.

In terms of the new benefits for each policy, pet owners now have greater flexibility with the Petplan Essential and Petplan Classic policies allowing them to add optional death cover, and Petplan Classic policy holders will also be able to choose between £4,000 and £7,000 worth of veterinary fee cover.

Petplan Ultimate has significantly increased cover limits across the policy including complementary treatment and loss by theft or illness. They’ve also added extra benefits such as a pet owner support pack, a Pet Bereavement Helpline provided by Blue Cross and access to the Petplan legal helpline.

“We’re always looking at ways we can better keep pets healthy and owners happy and these changes will compliment our ability to pay vet practices direct and settle 90 per cent of claims within 5 working days,” says Simon.

For details of Petplan’s new look policies visit www.petplan.co.uk or call
0845 077 1934 to talk to one of their sales teams.

We do love our dogs! New survey proves it

Doting dog owners are following in the footsteps of celebrity dog lovers, including Yorkshire terrier fan Miley Cyrus, and Paris Hilton, who is rarely seen without her teacup chihuahua Tinkerbell, as nothing is too much trouble for our dogs.

A survey of 2,000 dog owners, conducted for Burgess Supadog Sensitive, a top quality hypoallergenic dog food, reveals a sensitive side when it comes to caring for man and woman's best friend, and the lengths pet owners go to in order to look after their beloved family member.

Dog owners admit buying their pet gifts (62 per cent), taking time off work to be with them when they’re ill (42 per cent), letting them sleep on their bed (36 per cent) and, despite rising electricity costs, leaving on the television or radio to keep them company for a few hours (34 per cent).

Pet pooches are discerning when it comes to their choice of television or radio programme, according to their owners. Almost a quarter (23%) said their dog seemed to have an interest in action programmes on TV, much preferring the genre to Sci-fi (3%) or horror (8%). Dogs are also voting with their paws when it comes to the battle of the TV soaps, dictating what their owners watch. As our softer owners give their dog dibs on the remote control, Eastenders was the chosen canine viewing (41%) with Coronation Street a close second (34%).

Doggy daytime listeners to radio enjoy certain songs more than others, according to owners. The fifties classic, How much is that doggy in the window? Who Let the Dogs Out, The Birdie Song and Shout were all firm favourites for our dogs to dance to. Chris Moyles topped the polls as the number one doggy DJ, with his station BBC Radio One the favourite channel of choice for our music loving canines.

The research also found that we enjoy striking up a conversation with our dogs, but almost one in five women (18%) say they speak to their dog more frequently than to their partner or husband. Indeed, as we get older, we’re twice as likely to strike up a conversation with our dog than our partner.

The Welsh, Scots and those living in the south east are around twice as likely to talk to the dog than their partner than pet owners in Northern Ireland, the east midlands and the south west. In addition, over half of dog owners (57 per cent) admit to putting on a special ‘silly voice’ just for talking to their pet. (EDITOR: Oh, how very true that is!)

Richard Rockett from Supadog Sensitive: “We are a nation of dog lovers, but our research shows just how sensitive we are towards man’s best friend. Nothing is too much trouble to make sure our furry family member is contented and healthy. We share everything with our dogs, from our favourite television programme to musical preferences, and we’re not afraid of showing real affection for our favourite companion. We’re pleased that pet owners take the responsibility of owning a dog so seriously.

“The survey also revealed that food was a cause for concern among pet owners, As with humans, more and more dogs find certain foods and ingredients difficult to digest, causing stomach upset. A sensitive choice of dog food can take the hassle out of an upset stomach and is gentle for all dogs’ stomachs’, not just those prone to digestive problems. Why not take our Sensitive Challenge and see! www.supadogsensitive.com?”

The Supadog Sensitive research also showed two thirds of dog owners were very aware of their pet’s emotional state and able to identify whether they were happy or sad, hungry or tired. Respondents also showed an awareness of what their dog was scared of citing ‘other dogs’ as the most fearful encounter (23 per cent). Other fears included spiders, the telephone and their own tail!

Proud pet owners also boast their dog has a special talent (15%) including obedience tricks, high fives, dancing, playing football and rolling over.

Supadog Sensitive is a premium hypoallergenic dog food which is particularly suited to dogs with sensitive digestion. It is free from wheat, gluten, maize, eggs and beef.

Take the Burgess Supadog Sensitive Challenge at www.supadogsensitive.com Answer a series of simple questions about your dog to claim three free £5 vouchers and register for the chance to win a doggy holiday worth £500, with Welcome Cottages (www.welcomecottages.com).

Welcome to That's Pets!

Hello and welcome to That's Pets, the new online magazine/blog for pet owners and their pets. It will contain news and views about all aspects of pet keeping from dogs to cats from birds to fish and just about everything in between.