How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?

How often should you bathe your dog?

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Does your dog need a bath? If your dog is covered in mud or has been rolling in foul-smelling muck, then yes – you should probably give your dog a bath. Aside from these occasions when your dog is obviously dirty, there’s usually no reason to bathe your dog. Your dog’s fur is self-cleaning and can get rid of most minor dirt by itself. You certainly shouldn’t be giving your dog daily baths. This post goes into more detail as to why.

Why should you avoid giving your dog regular baths?

There are a few reasons as to why you should avoid giving your dogs regular baths. 

  • Firstly, your dog’s coat is full of natural oils. Dirt and bacteria is trapped by these oils and removed through natural hair shedding in most cases – so there’s no actual need to bathe your dog regularly. 
  • These oils help to moisturise your dog’s skin. Bathing your dog too often can remove these oils and cause your dog’s skin to become dry and itchy.
  • These oils also give your dog’s fur a natural sheen. If you bathe your dog regularly, you’ll strip away these oils and your dog’s fur will become dull and dry.
  • The likes of worming and flea treatments can be disrupted by frequent baths.

How much bathing is too much? Usually anything more than once per week will damage your dog’s skin and fur. If your dog is getting dirty every day, consider how you can reduce this such as taking alternative walking routes or finding a way to make the garden less muddy. 

What do I need to bathe my dog?

There will be times when your dog gets overly dirty, in which case you’ll need to give them a bath. While your dog’s fur can clean itself up to a point, it cannot clean out thick mud or animal faeces by itself. 

In these cases, you’ll need to give your dog a soak in some water and use some dog shampoo. Dog shampoo is not the same as human shampoo – it is specially formulated to get out thick dirt without containing harsh chemicals that could damage your dog’s fur or skin. You can find such shampoos at sites like www.thehealthydogco.com. A dog bath brush is worth using alongside this product to help thoroughly scrub the muck out of their fur. 

My dogs hates baths! How can I make them easier?

While some dogs enjoy baths, others hate them. Some will refuse to sit still in a tub and may fight to get out. You should consider what is making bath time stressful. A few ways to make baths more comfortable for your dog could include:

  • Putting down a mat on the tub floor to make it less slippery. A lot of dogs don’t like the slipperiness.
  • Making sure that the water is warm, but not too hot.
  • Waiting until the bath is run and the taps are off before putting your dog in the tub. Dogs can find the noise of running water scary. Similarly, avoid using the shower head.
  • Using an outdoor paddling pool. Some dogs may feel more comfortable jumping in this because the sides aren’t as big and it’s not as slippery. 
  • Comforting your dog with treats or standing in the bath with them (if there is enough room)
  • Hiring a professional to bathe them

How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

How much exercise does my dog need?

All dogs need regular exercises to stay happy and healthy. It’s just as important as regular veterinary care, quality food and loving care in that it affects their health and behavior. If you’re like most dog lovers, you want the best for your dog but the question that’s often hard to answer is “How much exercise does a dog really need every day?”

What happen’s if my dog doesn’t get enough exercise?

Many dog owners see to it that their canine companions exercise regularly but what if your dog has not been getting enough exercise? The goal isn’t just to get your pooch out and about; rather it is to ensure that they get the amount of physical activity needed to tone their muscles, stimulate their brain, promote good behavior, increase socialization and encourage their body and metabolism to function well.

If a dog doesn’t get enough physical activity, the following problems can occur:

  • Destructive behaviors like chewing, eliminating in the house, increased aggression etc.
  • Disinterest in human company, which could be a sign of depression
  • Hyperactivity when they’re on a walk
  • Excessive barking
  • Weight gain and joint issues

How much exercise does a dog need daily?

The amount of exercise a dog needs varies as there are a few factors to consider such as age, breed and health. Dogs have different exercise needs but experts generally recommend that dogs should get between 30 minutes and 2 hours of exercises each day. So how do you figure out the amount of physical activity your dog needs? Here are a few standard guidelines you can follow.

Exercising a puppy

Generally, puppies have a lot of energy that needs to be discharged, which explains why they tend to get injured easily. You probably have seen your puppy race madly around the house a few times only to collapse into a puppy pile, preferably in your laps.

Because they are very energetic,   it is recommended to exercise your puppy both mentally and physically however, the exercises should be broken into different short bursts that include walks and play sessions as they are too young to take a really long walk.

Since puppies are quite young, you might want to keep the exercises short until your puppy gets used to them. For instance, you can start with 10 minutes three times a day and increase the amount of time as your pup gets used to it.    A rule of thumb for puppies is 5 minutes of exercise for each month of age twice a day.

Exercising an adult dog

An adult dog can also be energetic but the amount of exercise required varies based on breeds. Some dog breeds require more exercises than others. For instance, larger and giant breeds are typically strong and have good stamina if they’re in good health. However, some larger breeds like Greyhounds aren’t as active as others and, therefore, require a little less amount of physical activity.

For medium breeds, they are also energetic and require lots of physical exercises. If your dog is a medium sized terrier such as Staffies, you may need to devote extra time to exercising them.

Some smaller breeds don’t require as much exercise compared to the larger ones and can do well with one hour of exercise per day. Some breeds like poodles and terriers can take on extra time of physical activity.

Exercising a senior dog

Your senior dog may not be as active like before due to age and possible health issues that may limit how active they can be. They tend to slow down or rest often during exercises, so it’s important to keep this in mind so you don’t push your aging dog too much.

However, you still need to exercise your senior dog as it can help keep their joints, ligaments, and muscles strong and supple. It can be hard to figure out how much exercise your dog needs but as the owner, you know your dog best, meaning you should be able to determine how much exercises your dog can handle or if in doubt, check with your dogs usual veterinarian.

Wrap-up

There are plenty of outdoor and indoor exercises that can help your dog stay healthy and fit but it’s essential to keep in mind their age, breed and health when deciding how much time to devote to exercising them.    Mental stimulation is equally important so also spend time on training and enrichment activities.

If you need any help with walking your dog then don’t hesitate to contact us on 0333 200 5827 or email info@scampsandchamps.co.uk

Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier Breed - Scamps & Champs

Yorkshire terrier –most popular among the toy breeds in the UK and rightly so. Though this cute little toy breed has a small size, it possesses a big personality. Yorkies stay in most people’s hearts due to their love and devotion for their owners, their suitability for apartment living, and their elegant looks.

More about Yorkshire terriers

Yorkies look quite full of themselves, and rightly so. With its silky, long coat and a perky knot at the top, Yorkshire terriers are amongst the world’s most glamorous dogs. Wherever they go, they are the show-stealers and grab the attention of everyone.

History of the breed

The Yorkshire terrier was developed in England (Lancashire and Yorkshire) during the Victorian reign. It is thought that this breed descended from other terrier dogs like Dandies Dinmont terrier, tan and black Manchester, Maltese, and Clydesdale terrier, which is now extinct.

General features

  • The Yorkies are energetic, affectionate, and tomboyish dogs.
  • They have breed popularity of 10 out of 197 breeds according to AKC
  • Yorkies have a height of 7-8 inches and usually weigh 7 pounds.
  • Their life expectancy stands between 11 to 15 years of age.
  • Yorkies belong to the toy group of breeds.

The general body features of Yorkshire terrier, as explained by the Yorkshire terrier club of America, are as follows:

Generally, Yorkies have a long-haired coat having tan and blue colour. It appears part from the base of the skull, face, end of the tail, and it hangs straight down on either side of the body. Their bodies are well proportioned, compact, and neat.

Head:

The head is somewhat flat from the top and small in size. Muzzle and skull are not so long and prominent, respectively. They possess a black nose with medium-sized eyes that are not much prominent. They usually have a sharp, sparkling and intelligent impression in their eyes.

Body:

They have compact and well-proportioned bodies, with short backs and levelled backlines. Height at the shoulder and rump region are the same.

Tail:

Tails are slightly at a higher level from the back and are docked at a medium length.

Coat:

When we talk about the coat, its texture, quantity, and quality bear great importance. Their coat hair is glossy, silky, and fine in texture. The hair coat is dead straight and moderately long. It will be best to trim it to the floor level to ease movement and a neat appearance.

Colours:

New-born puppies have a tan and black colour, intermingling tan hair in the black till they mature. When they become adults, their heads and legs become rich in tan colour.

Personality traits:

Self-assured and smart, the Yorkies make a combination of adventurous spirit with a small-sized body. There is variation in this breed’s personality from cuddly to perky to following the owners’ footsteps the whole day long. Some are outgoing, mischievous, and into everything.

Yorkies make great companions but watch out before spoiling them. They need training from a very young age when they are puppies. Early socialization of Yorkies is necessary as many other dogs. Make them greet other pets, sights, people, and experiences at an early age. Socialization turns them into all-rounder, friendly dogs.

Health:

Like other breeds, Yorkies are also prone to some ailments; but generally, they have good overall health.

If you will have a puppy, check for a reputable breeder and get one after having every clearance for health issues. By this certificate, you would know that your dog is tested negative for a particular health condition. Common problems in Yorkies are von Willebrand’s disease, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and elbow dysplasia    Always insist on seeing the puppy’s Mum in the home.   Never agree to meet a breeder away from the home.

Other common health problems include the following:

  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Renal atrophy
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Reverse sneezing
  • Collapsed trachea
  • Portosystemic shunt

Care of Yorkshire terrier

Yorkshire terriers are highly active dogs; high activity levels indoors fulfil their exercise needs. Generally, these cute little dogs are responsive to training and enjoy playing tricky games that involve obedience and agility. You need to train them at a very young age about toilet training.  Patience and consistency is key, never scold a puppy if they get it wrong and praise when they get it right.  If you train them well, you will end up having a well-mannered Yorkshire terrier.

They make lovely household pets with a little less tolerance to extreme weather conditions.

Feeding:

Divide their meal into two with a ½ to 3/4th cup of dry food daily. Remember, it mostly depends on your dog’s size, age, weight, and activity levels. Like humans, dogs do have particular needs of food depending on the previously explained factors. A couch potato dog will have a lesser need for food than a more extensive, highly active one. Make sure they do not become overweight as this is bad for their health. 

Small in size but Yorkie’s can be feisty and they make loving, loyal companions.

Scamps & Champs Covid Policy

Scamps & Champs Covid Policy

Following the updates from the government and the latest guidelines from CFSG, Scamps & Champs can continue to offer all of our services in a safe and responsible manner. We are taking all of the necessary precautions and will continue to follow the advice from the CFSG.

A Westie Wedding

Twenty five years ago my new husband and I pulled up in a white London taxi to the Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich to begin an afternoon and evening of celebration and laughter for our wedding reception.  

Though it’s not far from my home, my visits since then to this historical London pub, with its beautiful floor to ceiling bay windows overlooking the River Thames, have been few and far between; the odd drink and meal, sparkly outfits and glitter beards (the hubbie, not me!) for a night of disco. 

But today I’m here for another reason altogether: I’m bringing a gorgeous little West Highland Terrier, Brie, who I got to know and love whilst pet sitting in the summer, to be in a glamorous photo shoot for a wedding magazine!

Sharon Valentine, the owner of Valentine Weddings, has this knack for thinking outside the box. I met Sharon only recently, when we discussed how her company and Scamps & Champs might collaborate; Sharon is a wedding planner, based in Blackheath in SE London, and I provide a wedding pet chaperone service so that dogs can play a full part in their owners’ weddings! Sharon spotted an opportunity and invited me to be involved in her new winter magazine. 

So here we are, Brie and I, possibly at the most glamorous job either of us have ever done! Brie is looking decidedly gorgeous, after being expertly groomed by Christine of Absolutely Animals in Lee, and me looking less glam in my standard doggie workwear. The room is buzzing with dress makers, cake makers, stylists, photographers, lighting assistants, florists, models, and Brie takes it all in her little stride.

I have a moment, remembering that night twenty five years ago, and then it’s time to dress Brie in her tuxedo (yes, I know) and she’s in the spotlight. For a little dog, she seems to have a wealth of life experience, and she is as placid and patient as ever as she is photographed a hundred times with the “bride” and “groom”. She really is the most brilliant pet model – that saying about never working with animals or children just doesn’t apply to her. When she’s not needed, I wander around the sunlit room with her and then she calmly lies down and falls asleep for a few minutes, maybe worn out by the stardom!

After a couple of hours, Brie’s part in the shoot is done. She changes out of her tux, we say goodbye to the glamorous entourage and she skips down the wide staircase, looking forward to going home to her brother Herbie. I don’t think fame will change her!

Scamps and Champs can help you make your wedding day even more special by allowing your treasured pet to play a part, looked after by one of our professional, friendly and experienced staff. Get in touch with us to find out more.


Using a Cat Sitting Service in South East London

Deciding the best option for your cat’s care when you are away for a few days, or for a longer period, can be very difficult. You may have friends or family who are willing to pop in every day to feed your cats and to top up their automatic feeder, or you may consider a cattery. The other option is to use a professional cat sitter who will care for your cats in the comfort of their own home: Scamps and Champs provide high quality, professional cat sitting service in South East London.

There are many advantages to using a professional cat sitting service in South East London. Our cat sitters all have a love for cats and experience of caring for them. Our cat sitting visits aren’t just cursory visits to feed the cats; Scamps and Champs cat sitters will ensure your cat is fed and has fresh water, and will spend time with your cats, playing with them and giving them love and affection (if they want it!), also checking that your cats are safe and healthy, giving them medication if you would like us to. They will also ensure litter trays, if used, are emptied and refilled.

We follow your instructions as to how many times a day to visit. Some younger or elderly cats may need more frequent visits, whereas a cat with a cat flap who can come and go as it wishes may be fine with one visit a day. The choice is yours, as you know your cats better than anyone.

We have thorough procedures for only ensuring that we provide only the best staff to look after your treasured pets and to come into your home. We interview staff thoroughly, and, once they have demonstrated their motivation, experience and reliability, we obtain references for the previous 2 years and ensure that the cat sitter has an up to date DBS (police) check. Our cat sitters are also fully insured whilst working for Scamps and Champs South East London.

You will meet your cat sitter before agreeing to go ahead, so that you feel confident about the cat sitting service we will provide. At this meeting you can tell us all about your requirements, including the number of visits you would like your cat sitter to make every day and the routines and quirks of your cats, as well as your instructions for your home; the post, bins, plants etc, allowing us to provide you with a bespoke service.

During the cat sitting service, we keep in close contact with our sitters to ensure that everything is going as planned and we are on hand to provide back up or help if needed. We provide you with regular updates on the cat sitting service through our pet sitter software, and you will receive regular emails with photos and a status report on your cats, enabling you to relax whilst you are away, confident that all is well.

The Scamps and Champs price for at cat sitting service in South East London depends on how many visits and how many cats you have, but visits start at £10.00 for 1-2 cats.

For a detailed quotation, please contact us for further information. Scamps & Champs South East London currently provide cat sitting service in South East London and Bromley.

Scamps and Champs South East London are members of the National Association of Registered Pet Sitters and the Pet Industry Federation. Contact Scamps & Champs via our online form, to check availability and make a booking. Learn more about our Cat Sitting Service by visiting the Scamps & Champs Website.

Dog Walking Services in Bristol – Why Bother?

Using dog walking services over the past 5 years has been become increasingly popular by dog owners in the Bristol area. No more are loving dog owners finding it acceptable to leave their dogs unattended for the whole day while they go to work.

With the use of professional dog walkers in Bristol our Bristol dogs are getting to go out, stretching their legs and have stimulation during the day, despite their owners being at work. Having this type of dog walking service available has also opened up the possibility of having a dog as part of the family to families who are out all day at work or school and had otherwise discounted owning a dog.

There are the obvious reasons our dogs really need to have the day broken up for them, number 1 being the need to pee! No one wants to come home after a day at work or school to a find a puddle or worse, greeting them as the walk through the door. But there are other reasons, including the dogs mental health.

It’s known that a lack of exercise and mental stimulation can lead to attention-seeking and destructive behaviors. With sufficient daily exercise and stimulation, dog owners are far less likely to come home to a house that’s been torn apart by anxious or neglected feeling dogs.

There are also many physical health benefits to ensuring your dogs are exercised regularly and have plenty of enrichment throughout the day such as maintaining a healthy weight and joints.

Being the owner of younger dogs or puppies brings increased demands on your time but this is also the key phase where unwanted behaviours can develop. Ensuring your puppy has sufficient stimulation, exercise and training while it is young will help create the well-behaved, happy family dog you no doubt want. Using an experienced dog walker for your younger dogs and puppies is definitely worth considering, if you are struggling for time yourself.

There are many great places to go dog walking in Bristol and finding a safe route suitable for your dog will make the walk even better. Allowing your dog to sniff and search provides them with good mental stimulation and using their senses in this way will also tire them out…bonus for you when you return home for a nice cup of tea.

Reputable dog walkers in Bristol will have some form of GPS tracking, where you are able to monitor the service provided and check where your dog has been and how long for.

It’s tempting to use the “girl or boy next door” to walk our dogs as sometimes it can seem easier to arrange or possibly less costly. However what happens if something goes wrong; your dog lost, injured or injures someone else? Or what if the person you are relying on has something of their own crop up last minute, where does that leave your dogs walk.

Just in the same way you wouldn’t have the bloke next door service your car (unless they so happened to be in that trade), why then do we risk our four-legged family member with someone un-qualified or at the very least uninsured?

Protect your dog and your friendships; use a professional dog walker for your dog walking in Bristol.

Contact your local Scamps and Champs branch for more information or to discuss your dogs pet care needs.

Dog Walking in and Around Bristol

Pet owners in Bristol are increasingly relying on dog walkers to walk their dogs while they go to out to work. There are many dog walkers in Bristol who can be seen if you go out into one of the many parks and open areas. Some “professional” dog walkers are benefiting from “pack walking” dogs which is not necessarily benefiting the dog.

As a pet owner who can you truly trust to care for your pet and what should you consider? Having your dog walked by someone who is reliable and trustworthy is of course a number one priority, but how can you be certain of this? How can you gain the peace of mind knowing that your dog is having the best care and is of course happy and relaxed?

Firstly, when you are looking for dog walking in Bristol be sure to look for someone who is insured and DBS checked. A professional dog walking company in Bristol may use a pet sitter app which enable the dog walker in Bristol to be GPS tracked and for the pet carer to interact with you and send photos within the app whilst dog walking in Bristol. This is as a premier service enabling you to know the whereabouts of your dog and to be reassured that your pet is receiving the very best care as you receive a photo and an update after each dog walk in Bristol. You can also ask for references from other clients who use the pet care services.

You can request an initial visit in order to meet the person. During this visit it’s important to see how they react around your dog and also importantly, how your dog reacts around them. Asking interview style questions to find out about them and their background is also important, after all you need to know as much as you can about the dog walking company, especially considering you may even be leaving the keys to your house with them. It’s also a good idea to listen to the type of questions they ask you, as this will give you a good indication as to how experienced they are in doing this type of thing.

There are many dog walkers in Bristol, some independent others part of a larger company. The benefits of using a larger company for your dog walking are that it’s more likely they will be adhering to all the Animal Welfare Legislation and as they will have the concern with brand protection, more-so than an independent, meaning that they will be wanting to provide you with the high quality pet care.

The other consideration of using a professional dog walking company in Bristol is that should the dog walker be taken ill or unable to walk your dog at the last minute, the company should be able to provide you with a backup dog walker.

That being said, if you are looking to become a dog walker in Bristol, contacting a professional dog walking company will be a good place to start as they will probably have clients ready and waiting for you. Contact us via our online form to check availability and make a booking.

Horse Sitting Services Introduced at Scamps and Champs

We are excited to announce that some of our branches are now able to provide horse care services.

Having passionate and experienced horse owners within the Scamps and Champs group made us aware that it’s not just dog, cats and small animals that require caring for while owners are struggling for time during the days, recovering from illness or surgery, or away on holidays; but that horse owners have the same problems when it comes to the care of their horses.

We are delighted that some of our branches are now able to now offer a solution for horse owners.

Whether it’s mucking out, feeding, turning out and rug changes, or bringing in and grooming we have experienced people available to provide these horse care services.

Contact your local branch to find out whether they have an equine team available.

Whether horse owners are away on holiday or struggling for time during the week, our experienced equine teams are there to help.

Our horse sitting services will be provided by suitably experienced people, who have many years of being a horse owner and who may have worked on various yards and have experience of handling many types of horses. We will ensure each horse and pony is cared for by the right person with matching experiences to suit the individual needs of the horse or pony.

Horse care in Fareham is headed up by Jessicca our Fareham branch owner. Jess has worked for many years as a Freelance Groom, including work with a Grand Prix Show Jumper and Polo Ponies. Jess also used to break youngsters and also play Polocrosse. To find out more about Horse Care in Fareham Contact Jess Here

We also have an experienced equine team within our Halifax branch. Contact Katie our branch owner to find out more

Keep an eye on our Services page for further details about our horse care services.

Not Simply a Dog Walking Service – Pet Care in Reigate Offers you Advice for your Pets in the Heat!

Well what a beautiful Easter weather we are having but whilst it makes all the difference to us humans and raises those spirits from the gloomy winter months. Please do remember the effect it has on your much loved pets, something I and the Scamps and Champs Reigate team are so conscious of and make sure all our clients have the support if they you unable to be there during the day. The continuing changeable weather also makes it challenging for pets to acclimatise to the heat, making sudden, un-seasonal hot spells even more dangerous.

Dogs rely on panting as their main method of cooling – but it only controls body temperature up to a point. As temperatures and humidity rise, panting is no longer able to cool them and it can lead to potentially fatal heatstroke. I am sure by now we are all well aware of the dangers of leaving dogs in cars during warm weather, but Scamps and Champs Reigate pet care services just wanted to reiterate with some handy advice on keeping your pets safe when the temperatures rise.

Don’t leave animals in cars even in the shade, car temperatures can increase quickly and as the sun moves and shade disappears the internal car temperature will rapidly increase. Leaving windows partially open has little effect on car temperature, Instead, if you are stuck in traffic or travelling, have the air conditioning on to keep the car cool and make sure windows are shaded from direct sunlight. Ideally, leave your dog at home in hot weather, however be conscious that conservatories and greenhouses can have similar affects to cars.

Avoid the hottest part of the day it’s best for pets not to stay outside in the hottest part of the day. Take dogs for walks in cooler parts of the day in the early morning or evening and avoid any strenuous exercise in the heat. Cats need shade and water too in fact all pets need access to cool water and shade to keep their temperature down don’t forget your small furries like rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs. If your pet is unfit, obese or suffers from a respiratory disorder, you should be particularly careful exercising in hot or humid conditions.

You should ideally make sure you supervise activity as pets themselves won’t know when to stop in the sun. Scamps and Champs Reigate dog walking and pet care services will be happy to help with this even if it is just to pop in to check up on your loved ones and make sure they are keeping cool.

What to do if you suspect your pet has heatstroke Signs: Rapid, heavy breathing, lack of energy, decreased urine production, bulging eyes, and the tongue appearing long and dark red. Vomiting and/or diarrhoea can follow. If you think your dog has heatstroke, get it to a vet as quickly as possible. Avoid using ice or very cold water as this can cause blood vessels on the skin surface to constrict and reduce effective cooling. It can also cause shivering which can create more heat from the muscles. Key areas to cool are the neck, abdomen and inner thighs with lukewarm water or water-soaked towels. It is important that you do not over cool your dog, as this can lead to shock – a lack of blood supply to vital organs – so using lukewarm water is important. Out and about, cool surfaces, shade, air conditioning in cars and fans can also aid cooling. Even if the dog is cooled, veterinary treatment is still key to allow more targeted treatment and monitoring to occur.

I am sure all your pets are always looked after and you would never allow them to be overheated but I just wanted to put this together so you know if you are having to go out and you are worried and you have pets in the Reigate, Redhill, Banstead, Dorking and surrounding villages please do get in touch and Scamps and Champs Reigate branch will do all we can to help.

To learn more about our pet care services in Reigate and the surrounding areas including; dog walking, dog sitting, cat sitting, overnight pet sitting and our wedding pet chaperone service. Simply visit Scamps and Champs Reigate.

To ask us a question, to get in touch or to check service availability, simply complete our online form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.