This is an article written by Lucy Dixon which appeared in the magazine Dogs Monthly, February 2009.

‘Home Improvements’- Lucy Dixon’s top tips for creating a canine comfort zone.

As a result of the property market slow-down, more of us are making home improvements instead of moving house. when getting your first dog it is orth making sure your interior design revamp is both stylish and dog-friendly.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that owning a dog doesn’t go hand in hand with having a spotless home. Our best friends do have a tendency to make their presece felt (in my Henry’s case, with muddy paw prints). But, if you’re considering a new kitchen or bathroom, or simply planning a home makeover, there are things you can do to make your home easy to clean, as well as comfortable for both you and your dog.

FLOORING

If you’re planning on changing your floors the chances are you’ll be looking at laminate or real wood flooring, which has soared in popularity in recent years. It’s certainly easy to clean should your dog have an accident indoors, but it’s not necessarily the most dog-friendly choice- particularly if you have a larger breed.

Vet Michelle Shanson, author of Puppy Power (available from VeterinaryBlonde.com), explains: ‘Carpet is better for bigger dogs as wooden floors can pose a problem with grip. Larger dogs, over 12kg, find it harder to stop on slippery floors and are also more prone to hip and joint problems when they get older- skidding around is only going to make this worse.’

There’s a huge choice of flooring materials on the market, from tiles and real wood to carpet and vinyl, so there should be a material to suit your house and your dog. If you opt for carpet, then choose something durable and consider a patterned option- this can hide a multitude of sins inbetween vacuuming.

FURNITURE

As with flooring, the best furniture for dog owners depends on what breed and size of dog is in the house.

Michelle says: ‘If you’ve got a Great Dane it’s unlikely you’ll want him on the sofa, so you really can go for any type of sofa. Owners of smaller dogs might allow them on the furniture, in which case go for a natural fabric that is easy to wash.’

Removable covers that are machine-washable could be a good idea if your dog is allowed on the sofa. Any fabrics that have long strands, such as chenille, are a bad idea as claws can get stuck in the threads. Leather is also best avoided, purely because dogs can easily scratch or tear the material.

Think about the height of any coffee tables too, as waggy tails are often at the right height to send any ornaments (or glasses of wine) flying!

‘The most important point with furniture is that you should have plenty of storage space,’ says Michelle. ‘Make sure you have enough drawers or cupboards so you can put things away, out of the reach of any curious dogs. I’ve seen lots of dogs who have eaten ‘foreign objects’ which can easily be avoided by putting clutter away’ she adds.

If you’re putting up shelves, majke them high enough so your dog can’t help himself to whatever is on them.

WALLS

If you’re giving a room a fresh coat of paint then choose something eco-friendly. Any healthy, happy adult dog should not be chewing your walls to bits, but there’s no harm in opting for paints made using natural materials. Standard paints are made using synthetic ingredients that can be harmful to your health and the environment.

KITCHEN AND BATHROOM

Any kitchen can be made dog-friendly with minimal effort and cost, simply by adding childproof locks to the cupboard doors ( it can’t just be my dog who worked out how to get in the cupboard and help himself to a whole packet of biscuits). There’s various options available, including catches and magnets.

A dog- proof kitchen bin is also a good idea to put a stop to any midnight scavenging.

A simple, and cheap, addition to the bathroom can also make life easier for dog owners: a shower attachment to fit to the bath taps.

If you’re looking to update your whole bathroom, then a wet room style is both practical and fashionable. These showers have no tray to trip over and could make bathing your dog much easier.

As Michelle says: ‘A wet room is a brilliant idea for big dogs particularly. It can be dangerous, for both dog and owner if you struggle to lift your dog into the bath, especially if he is nervous. You could make bath-time fun with a walk-in shower aand turn it into more of a game. Just be careful not to get water in his ears.’

GARDENS

The list of plants that are potentially harmful to dogs is absolutely enormous (see Dogs Trust) and I haven’t heard of most of them. It’s certainly daunting for anyone looking at introducing any new plants into their garden.

Michelle says bulbs can be particularly dangerous: ‘ Daffodil flowers and bulbs are dangerous to dogs, and all bulbs should be kept out of harm’s way before planting. Conkers are also potentially dangerous, because they are poisonous and can also cause an obstruction if swallowed. other plants to avoid include rhododendrons, misletoe and holly.’

Plants with thorns or other spiky bits can injure dogs’ ears and eyes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have rose bushes- train your dog not to go on the flower beds. When treating your lawn or plants with any feed or weed treatments, make sure you opt for a pet-friedly product and follow the instructions.

HEATING

The year- round warm climate we create in our homes with central heating is reckoned to make some dogs moult excessively. And, short of living without heating, there’s no easy solution to this.

Michelle points out that it won’t cause your dog any harm to live with a lack of seasons. ‘As long as dogs are groomed regularly to avoid a build-up of dead hair, then it shouldn’t be a problem. If your dog has a dry coat then add evening primrose oil to his food, as this will help keep it in good condition.’

CLEANING

So, you’ve finished revamping your home’s decor and want to keep it that way. There’s plenty of products available that will help ensure your home remains beautiful, many of which are specifically aimed at pet owners.

Although I initially thought it was just a marketing gimmick, the pet hair-removing vacuum cleaner that I have really is a miracle worker. Upholstery brushes designed to remove pet hair are also pretty good.

There are also dog-specific cleaning products on the market, although any stain remover should do the job, as long as you pick the right one for the surface, whether it’s the carpet, rug or sofa. JML has an excellent range of cleaning and household products that really do the job. I’m extremely biased when it comes to my dog, and don’t think he smells doggy at all. Love is blind and and apparently, without a sense of smell, after all. But if you’re more realistic than me, then get your hands on a plug-in air freshener to eliminate any poochy pongs.

WHEN THE DAMAGE IS DONE

Finally, every dog owner knows that accidents happen, particularly with young dogs and puppies. So, is ther anything you can do when your dog has chewed the chair leg or the bottom of the kitchen cabinets?

Plastic Surgeon is a nationwide company that offers a cosmetic repair service and says there is no household damage it can’t fix. The company specialises in ‘magically’ repairing anything from bath tubs to car interiors and this includes any dog-inflicted damage.

Copyright Lucy Dixon

Lucy Dixon is a journalist specialising in travel writing. She lives in Bedfordshire with her Cocker Spaniel, Henry.

Please visit her website!

Owning a so called ‘designer dog’ has become a new craze in the last year or so. ‘Designer dogs’ are in fact just a selectively bred cross-breed which you pay a lot of money to buy! I suppose that eventually they may become recognised breeds in their own rights. Why are these ‘designer dogs’ sought after and why have they come into existence in the first place?

Dogs have been selectively bred for hundreds of years to develop traits that were useful for hunting, herding or guarding. Now the emphasis is perhaps more on the look of the dog and increasingly the dog’s temperament and suitability as a companion. Originally people purposefully crossed pure-bred dogs in order to achieve a specific purpose, for example the ‘Labradoodle’ (Labrador cross poodle) was first bred as an attempt to develop guide dogs for visually impaired people with allergies. Unfortunately because these dogs are sought after and can be sold for considerable amounts of money, they have sometimes been bred by unscrupulous breeders. Also, because genetic inheritance is not straight forward it is difficult to predict if these ‘designer dog’ pups will actually have the desired traits.

Celebrities buying these ‘designer dogs’ have fuelled the craze. Jennifer Aniston has a ‘Labradoodle’. Jake Gyllenhaal and Uma Thurman have both been photographed walking their ‘puggles’, a cute cross between a pug and a beagle. Then there’s Jessica Simpson’s dainty ‘maltipoo’, a cross between a Maltese terrier and a toy poodle which is also sometimes called a ‘moodle’. This lack of consistency in names for ‘designer dogs,’ can cause confusion! I think the names of these cross breeds are part of the attraction because they sound so cute and fun!

The UK Kennel Club doesn’t recognise these cross-breeds but in America there is the American Canine Hybrid Club which does.

On a serious note, at a time when rescue centres across the UK are seeing increases in the number of abandoned animals, I think that if you want a cross bred dog you will find a perfectly adorable one in a rescue centre that is delighted to find a happy home. Why spend large amounts of money buying a cross-bred dog labelled as a ‘designer dog’? To be frank, one can easily find pure-bred dogs in rescue centres too.

It is my opinion that while the rescue centres are overflowing with abandoned animals, anyone able to provide the necessary commitment of caring for a dog, should definitely look at a rescue dog first.

Remember, dogs are a life-long commitment, not just a fancy accessory to have like a designer handbag as Paris Hilton and some other celebrities would have us believe! They certainly shouldn’t be carried around all day in handbags!’

Enjoy your lovely pooch, ‘designer’ or not!

Copyright ©Shanson Ltd 2008

This is an excerpt from my ebook ‘Puppy Power- everything you need to know BEFORE you buy a puppy’ concerning the docking of dogs’ tails-
Docking involves removing the whole or part of a puppy’s tail when it is only 3-5 days old without the use of anaesthetic. Contrary to popular opinion, a puppy CAN feel pain at this age and will generally react with whimpering, squealing, wriggling the tail stump or whole body and sometimes urination.

You may wonder why such a practice would ever be condoned and the answer is that historically it was performed as a ‘prophylactic measure’ – to prevent the risk of the dog injuring its tail during future work. In more recent times it has become merely the fashion for certain breeds, such as the Rottweiler.

In England and Wales there is now a complete ban on the docking of dogs’ tails with the only exception being for a few particular types of working dog which require specific certification, or for certain medical treatment.

In Scotland there is a complete ban on tail docking and it is not allowed for any reason whatsoever.

In Northern Ireland docking can still be performed on puppies but for truly prophylactic reasons only, and not merely on request or just because a dog is of a particular breed or type.

In those parts of the UK where tail docking is still legal under certain circumstances, it is ONLY a qualified veterinary surgeon that may perform the procedure: the challenge, however, is often finding one who is willing to, since over 90% of vets strongly object to the practice.

Any animal naturally born with a tail relies on it for a number of things, including:

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In my opinion there is no justifiable reason for performing tail docking as a prophylactic measure since the dog experiences evident disadvantages and no genuine benefit. I am especially saddened when I see dogs which have been docked for purely fashionable reasons. I think dogs are most beautiful and magnificent with their tails, as nature intended them and would encourage anyone considering this practice (within the legal framework) to please, think again.

Despite the legislation in place, I am still seeing puppies at work that are docked, often without the owner even realising. If YOU want to buy a puppy with a full length tail, please make it your business to ask questions about your future puppy and make sure he or she is NOT docked before you buy. You have the power to make sure that puppies keep their tails as nature intended!

copyright Shanson Ltd 2008