Big Dog Little Adventures - Page 7 of 7 - Little Adventures With A Big Dog

Keeping Your Newfoundland’s Ears Clean and Healthy

Tips On keeping Your Newfoundland’s Ears Clean and Healthy

Newfoundlands are great dogs true workhorses; they have real lifesaving instincts in the water and are a master in long-distance swimming. They are big and strong, and have a thick fur and a thick undercoat to shelter them all through rescue work in freezing water. Their grooming requirements may change due to the season; they needed extra grooming during fall shedding periods and also during spring. Their ears should be cleaned and nails clipped every 4 to 8 weeks.

As a dog owner, one of the most important tasks for grooming your dog is to keep the ears clean and free of hair and dirt. Dogs have very sensitive ears and this function can be a challenge for many dog owners who perform this procedure alone. In this article, we will discuss the proper way to clean your dogs ears and why it is very important to your puppy’s overall health.

Dogs enjoy having their ears rubbed, but if they are tender from an injury or infection, your dog will most likely pull away from you disinclined to have them touched. Therefore, softly massaging your pup’s ears is the first step in verifying their condition. If you observe that your dog is sensitive to your touch, it is time to take a closer sniff in the ears. Yes, I mean sniff your dog’s ears. Healthy ears have no odour. Get used to sniffing their ears, starting from the puppy stage, so you know how they smells naturally. If the ear smells like yeast or downright stinky, it is likely that a bacterial or yeast infection is developing.

Ear infections are very common in Newfoundland’s. Therefore, it is a good strategy to trim the hair around your pup’s ears so that air can circulate freely. Making it a habit to examine your dog ears will help avoid serious infections. Dog ear cleaner should be used regularly,and can be purchased from an online pet shop, I love the Frontline Ear Cleaner, it is recommended to clean your dog’s ears weekly or monthly with ear care to ensure there are no ear problems that may need the attention of your veterinarian. The amount of times your dog ears are cleaned depends on how much time they spend in the water.

Clean your dog’s ears if they have a mild odour and occasionally when you observe them shaking their head. That may help stop an infection before it takes root. You should also clean your dog’s ears if the wax appears dirty grey instead of gold or if your dog’s ears seem waxier than usual. When a lot of wax builds up, it can prevent airflow in the ear and cause a bug in the surface ear canal.

To clean your dog ears, tip the dog’s head downward with one hand, and spurt a vet recommended cleanser gently into the ear, filling the canal. Keep the ear closed; give it a good massage, squishing the cleaner all over the ear. This will soften any substance inside. Now take a step back and let the dog shake. Clean any residual cleanser with a soft or dry cloth or tissue; don’t let it go any further than your finger’s first knuckle.

That is all you have to do. Do not mess roughly with cotton-tipped applicators. They can carry dirt deeper into your pup’s ear. Do not clean your dog’s ears with witch hazel or alcohol. They dry the dog’s ear and may sting if the dog has scratches inside its ear. Take your dog to the vet if the odours or the signs persist or worsen after cleaning the ears. It may require deep cleaning and a drop of antibiotic or ointment to resolve the infection.

We were provided with products from Petshop.co.uk, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Looking for a New Place to Walk Your Dog?

We have about four different places that we take Merrie for a walk, and although there are lots of different routes we can take, I don’t want Merrie to get too used to any of them, particularly as Newfoundlands are known for liking routine and some flatly refuse to walk anything other than their usual path!

Pet insurer MORE TH>N has developed a free ideas generator for days out with dogs – owners simply pop in their postcode and push the button, and hey presto, the tool will recommend dog-friendly holidays and days out for dogs in the UK.

MORE TH>N’s vet Andrew Moore said: “No matter what the weather, dogs need to be walked and go out every day. This new dog days out tool is the perfect solution for owners stuck in a rut, as new smells, sights and sounds are very stimulating for dogs and a paw-some antidote to the rainy day blues.”

If you are looking for a nearby dog-friendly pub, dog-friendly beach or a new walking route in the countryside, town or a new dog-friendly park – all the information is at a touch of a button.

The generator has a number of filters enabling owners to select a location and the distance they are willing to travel with a dog for some new fun.

To find out a new and exciting place to take your fur baby for a walk, just click on the Dog Days Out tool and discover somewhere fun to go tomorrow.

First Night Home with a New Large Breed Puppy

The most exciting day has arrived, you’re bringing home your large breed puppy. Did you get all the basic necessities? Are you ready to take on the responsibility of a big fur baby? You’re not nervous are you? Relax, we’ve generated a checklist and some helpful tips for your dogs first night home. This can … Read more

Subscription Boxes For Dogs

Subscription boxes seem to be all the rage, and why should our four legged doggy friends miss out, so here are the subscription boxes for dogs that I have found so far, please comment below if I have missed any, or if you have tried any of them, from dog toys and treats through to food parcels and monthly flean and worming treatments, there really is a subscription box for everything!

My Pet Gift Box

My Pet Gift Box is the UK’s only 100% personalised subscription box for dogs. Our team of experts individually handpick and deliver a box of top brand dog toys, natural treats & chews and accessories to your door when it suits you – monthly, every 3 months or every 6 months.

With a My Pet Gift Box membership, you will receive:

Enjoy a handpicked box of at least 6 top brand quality toys, treats and accessories that is tailored for your dog every month
Flexible delivery frequency – choose from monthly, quarterly or every six months
Savings up to 35% off premium brand dog toys, treats and accessories
Themed boxes at Easter, Halloween & Christmas
A FREE gift and card on your dog’s birthday
Exclusive offers, deals and promotions
Regular gifts for you (you need to be pampered too sometimes!)
No commitment. Cancel or pause your subscription at any time
Quality guarantee – if you are not 100% happy with any items in your box, we will replace them free of charge

Price : £24.99 per month. £29.99 every 3 months £34.99 every 6 months

2. #PupPost

#PupPost is an exciting monthly adventure by Puppy Essentials! With a different theme each month.
Every Box contains at least 2 toys and 3 treats paw picked by our in house experts and delivered for free by Royal Mail.
We pride ourselves on selecting the coolest, quirkiest and eco-conscious products around to ensure that your dog is the trendiest, healthiest pooch in town.

Price: £27 per month (cancel at anytime) £23 per month if you sign up for 6 months.£19 per month for 12 consecutive months. box size you select

3. DoggTreats

The dog treats and toys in your box are specially hand picked every month by our dog experts. We guarantee a fantastic mix of exciting items that your dog will enjoy. Exactly what is in each monthly treat box depends on which box you select. Our office mascot, Callie the Spaniel makes sure she helps testing the treats & toys!.

•Order now to receive this months goodie box.
•Like free delivery? You got it, our boxes are free delivery too!
•You can cancel your box subscription whenever you like.
•Every month too much? No problem, pause or alter your boxes easily.
•We know our stuff, and we guarantee your will love the service you receive.

Price : Snack Pack consists of 3-4 healthy treats £9.99 per month.Mega Box – 5-7 quality treats and toys £17.99.

4. Bark Bites

Healthy, tasty and nutritious dog treats delivered through your letter box from as little as £5.49 per box!

Huge variety of natural, human grade, hand baked dog treats
Tailor your frequency to your dog. We will hand select a unique variety in every box you receive
Free delivery to your home or office in letter-box friendly packages
From as low as £5.49 + 25% off your 1st box. Barktastic!

Price: Weekly £5.49 Fortnightly £5.49

5. Pawsome Box

6 products suited to your dog’s profile, delivered to your doorstep once a month!
Delicious treats, toys, accessories and hygiene products : our teams only selects the best products for your pooch!
Super savings : the price of subscription to our boxes is much cheaper than the value of the products included!

Small or large, short haired or long, puppy or adult…Tell us everything about your dog so that we can select the best products for him, which include yummy treats, toys, accessories and hygiene products. Choose a plan, we offer 12 months, 6 months, 3 months or 1 month subscriptions, it’s up to you what you choose! You can choose to suspend the subscription at any moment. Boxes are sent each month towards the 10th, you receive them between the 15th and 25th of the month. Your furball will be ready for hours of fun with playful toys, tasty snacks and all in all you will have a very happy pup!

Price: £19.90 monthly. £56.70 3 months. £107.40 6 months. £190.80 12 months.

6. Woof-Box

The size of your dog is important to us so we can tailor treats, toys and other goodies. Choose from a 1 month plan, or the better value plans of 3 months or 6 months. You can cancel at any time. Choose our surprise selection, or customise to create a more personalised selection. Lastly, submit payment and delivery details – boxes will be sent out around the 14th of each month.

We offer a wide range of natural, top quality and more exclusive items which are not commonly found in pet shops. We choose only the finest quality products from the many wonderful suppliers we use. You can customise your box when you check out, by opting to use our simple rating system.

Price: £21.99 1 month. £20.50 3 months. £18.95 6 months.

7. Barks & Bunnies

Barks & Bunnies offer lots of different subscription boxes for your dog. Offering a one time only purchase or repeating subscription service.

More than 10 different themed boxes to suit your pets needs, choose how frequently to receive your delivery, manage your own subscription at anytime of day or night 7 days a week PLUS variety is guaranteed with no two Happy Boxes ever the same!

Happy Dog Boxes are available for lots of different dogs, the boxes are called – Classic, Interactive, Luxury, Multi, Old Soul, Premium, Puppy, Tough Stuff, Treats and Treats Plus.

Prices: Prices range from £9.99 for a treat box through to £39.99 for a Luxury and Puppy Box.

8. Company of Hounds

We’re keen to make sure that everything you receive in your box is not only great quality but practical too – there’s absolutely no point us sending a bar of soap if you’ve told us you don’t groom at home! So each box is tailored to what you’ve told us about your hounds.

Treats & Chews

All of our treats and chews contain only natural, top-notch ingredients. Many are wheat, grain or dairy free so we can accommodate those more sensitive hounds! Crunchy and soft-baked biscuits, Pure air-dried meat treats, Fish biscuits, Natural antler chews and Healthy fruit and vegetable chews

Toys

We’ve got the ultimate hound toy box. All toys are made from natural, environmentally-friendly or sustainable materials and aim to provide maximum fun! Squeaky soft toys, Toys to share, Frisbees, Balls to chase and Interactive toys.

Grooming and Care

To keep your hound in tip-top condition, we include grooming and general care products as well as practical accessories that we think you’ll enjoy. Natural hand-made soaps and shampoos, Dental care products, Health supplements, Emergency wipes for stinky smells and Biodegradable poo bags.

Price: Single Hound box £26. Monthly Hound box £23.95. Single treat box £9.95 Monthly treat box £8.75

9. PawPost

As animal lovers, we know just how much money pet owners can spend on their beloved furry friends each month. Here at PawPost, we deliver fantastic, monthly goody boxes which save our customers both time and money. With every box you are guaranteed to make great savings!

Our monthly boxes offer a range of premium, natural and eco-friendly toys. New and exciting products before they hit the high street or other retail outlets, Natural food made from ingredients that you can trust giving to your four-legged friend and a selection of fantastic products and accessories to keep your beloved pet happy.

10. Doggie Delivery

We serve up a huge variety of delicious, healthy and hearty dog treats. Choose your frequency to suit your dog. We will hand select a unique variety in every box you receive.

Prices: Weekly Delivery: £ 6.49. Fortnightly Delivery: £6.99. Monthly Delivery: £7.49

11. Scooby Box

Our boxes come bursting with some very special items each month. Fun toys, healthy organic treats & cool accessories that your dog is sure to ruv! Tell us how big your dog is. From small & sweet to big & burly, we’ve got boxes to suit all sizes. We offer 1, 6 & 12 month plans. Discounts apply for longer subscriptions. Cancel anytime. ScoobyBox is shipped on the 15th of each month. Get those tails wagging! Each box comes packed with healthy organic treats and high-quality fun toys for your dog.

Price: £19.99 per month 12-month plan. £22 per month 6 month plan. £26 per individual month.

12. Barky Box

Each month we will deliver a box that contains fantastic products to your door, including a combination of healthy treats, eco-friendly toys and accessories that have been carefully selected according to your dog’s or cat’s needs and size. You can choose from our three subscription plans: The three-month plan, the six-month plan or the twelve-month plan.

If you select a monthly plan, you will pay each month for your box. If you select the three-month plan, you are committed to pay each month during three months but here comes the great news, you will get a discounted price for your three Barky Boxes. An even further discount would be applied if you selected the six-month plan or, even better, the twelve-month plan.

Price : £21.99 single month. £19.99 3 month subscription. £18.99 6 months. £17.99 for 12 months.

13. Wag & Bone

The inspiration for our dog subscription boxes all started with a sausage. Nope not the kind you put in a hot dog. The Dachshund kind to be precise. Rachel and Tom rescued Rupert the Dachshund from the Dogs Trust in August 2016. He was a funny little thing, who had a ponchant for socks and was fussy about food.

They knew they were in for a challenge to keep him interested particularly, as despite everything, he always chose the sock over the fun new toy or gave one sniff of his food and would saunter off in a strop! Rachel and Tom spent a lot of time and money on trying to find the right food for Rupert, that didn’t upset his stomach or make his skin itchy, buying various toys that either got relagated to the bottom of the pile or destroyed in a few minutes, to treats that weren’t high value enough.

It turned out that Rachel and Tom weren’t the only ones struggling with this dilemma and so armed with the knowledge that a fussy dog brings, Wag & Bone dog subscription boxes was born. Every single product that goes into our dog subscription boxes has been tried and tested by Rupert, all sourced from brands we love and trust.

All food and treats are made from natural ingredients, accessories have been given the paw of approval and all toys have passed the Dachshund test. (Trust us, they love to destroy things, and they’re pretty efficient at it). We only work with vendors who care deeply about the health and happiness of dogs as much as we do.

Prices: Small/Medium dogs £24.50 12 months. Big Dawgs £29.50 12 months. Tough Chewers £34.50 12 months.

14. Top Collar

We are a small, Yorkshire based business who are committed to bringing exciting dog treats to pups all around the UK. We pride ourselves on our quirky ‘doggy menu’ with a humansied twist – we know owners tend to see their pets as part of the family, so have come up with a range of recipes that mean your pooch will never be left out – including Fish and Chips, Sunday Roast and Full English.

Top Collar is a regular dog treat subscription service, so you never have to worry about running out of your favourite treats! Our treats are hand baked each month and delivered to customers in letterbox friendly packaging, all personalised with your cutest doggy photo. You can choose to receive treats fortnightly or monthly and once you’re a member you can manage your boxes easily online using our members page. There’s no commitment, so you can pause, cancel or change the frequency of your deliveries any time you like!

Price: £5.99 per box, first box is FREE you just pay £1 p&p

15. Jammy Pet

Jammy Pet is a monthly subscription hamper, for pets! Each hamper will include a variety of snacks and toys, as well as health and pamper products to enhance the wellbeing and happiness of your pet!

It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a new furry family member, or if you’ve had a faithful best pet friend for years — everyone benefits from Jammy Pet hampers.

Being a Jammy Pet pawscriber also means special deals, promotions and competitions through our Jammy Pet community and newsletter.

If you like an item you’ve received in your Jammy Pet hamper, please let us know and we’d be delighted to tell you where you can get more of it.

Prices:

£21 Single hamper. £20 3 month subscription. £19 12 month subscription

16. VivaDogs

The ones that love dogs like us understand what we mean when we say that the bond between a person and a dog can be stronger than any other type of bond. The ones who don’t will maybe never understand this. Basically, where others see sacrifice, we see gratification. Because we know that everything good that we give them, will be returned.

Vivadogs comes out of this love for dogs, a monthly box with 5 different premium products, especially thought to celebrate, nourish and strengthen the bond with your dog.

Prices: £19.90 monthly. £14.90 with 6 month subscription. £13.90 for 12 months subscription.

17. BullyMake

If your dog destroys any toy we ship within 14 days, let us know! We will ship you a replacement that’s rougher and tougher! No power chewing pups left unsatisfied! [And nothing destroyed]

We’re the one subscription company that focuses ONLY on power chewers! We deliver toys and treats based on your dog’s weight and allergy preferences. You get hand selected perfection in every Bullymake Box!

You will never pay a dime on shipping in the United States! That’s on us, no matter what you order. Your first order is hand picked, packed, and shipped in just 2-3 business days. $8/month to Canada and Global shipping varies by destination!

Prices: $39 1 month. $108 every 3 months. $204 every 6 months. $372 per year.

18. Pet Stay Dog Gifts

Our PetStay Gift Boxes are filled with a selection of great quality toys, snacks and accessories for your dog! You can order your Gift Box in three simple steps. Simply choose the size of your dog, order the size best suited to you, check out and we will deliver the box to your door!

Our Christmas gift boxes are the perfect gift to surprise your favourite furry friend on Christmas morning, filled with toys, treats & other doggy items! We have included a special personalised card, no need to worry about wrapping as we have that covered with our ribbon designed boxes complete with their own name label and gift bow!

Prices: Small Dog £21.99. Medium Dog £22.99. Large Dog £23.99.

19. Doggyparcel

Get a monthly assortment of premium dog items from top brands, helping you discover innovative toys, natural treats, grooming and well being products your dog will love. Doggyparcel was born because we love helping dog owners bond with their pets through play, great treats, grooming and training aids. We’ve learnt the hard way that the time we’re blessed with our pets is never long enough – so make the most of every precious moment! Explore and Enjoy!

Prices:

£19.99 month to month. £56.97 3 month prepay. £107.94 6 months prepay

20. LootPets

Geeky Pup Gear For Your Furry Friend
Tail-Waggingly Tasty Treats
$50+ in Retail Value

Make your pup go doggone wild with excitement with a monthly mystery crate packed full of fun toys, tasty treats and awesome apparel for your furry friend.

Prices:

£24 per month to UK

21. The Tail Wagger

The Tail Wagger boxes are a great way to always have new and exciting products for your dog, delivered to your door.
If you need more convincing, here is a list of all the reasons why you should try us out!

We take QUALITY seriously – Only the best and healthiest products will be in our box.
It’s Tailor Made – Every box we send is unique. We will hand pick every item based on what you tell us and your needs. so you and your doggie are always happy with what you get.
It’s Fun – We’re always on the lookout for new goodies (stuff even hipster dogs haven’t tried)
It’s Convenient – Just subscribe and every month you’ll have a fresh box delivered to your door.
It’s great value – You’ll always pay less for the box than buying each item separately.
It’s fuss free – You can always cancel your subscription within the notice period.

Prices:

Small Box (1-2 items) £14.99 monthly. Regular Box (4-6 items) £21.99 monthly. Large (7-10 items) £34.99 monthly

22. Protect My Pet

We deliver brand leading flea and worming treatments to pets across the UK. All our boxes are tailored specifically to your dog or cat and delivered just when their treatment is due. When it arrives in the post it’s time to dose. One size doesn’t fit all. We tailor your pet’s treatment plan based on their age, breed and weight. Every 4 weeks you will receive a health box containing the flea and worming treatments your pet needs that month. You can enjoy total peace of mind knowing that your pet’s flea and worming treatments are always up to date.

Prices:

Premium Small Dog 3-10kg £10.99 per month. Premium Medium Dog 10-20kg £11.99 per month. Premium Large Dog 20-40kg £14.99 per month. Premium Extra Large Dog 40-60kg £16.99 per month.

23. Purple Bone – Purple Box

Purplebone introduces purplebox – an essential monthly subscription box for any breed and size, your dog will be waiting every month for purplebox day! The purplebox will vary each month. Your dog will receive a range of luxury toys, treats, waste bags and cosmetics plus a free surprise gift for their owners too!

Prices:

Choice of Small Dog (up to 15kg) Medium Dogs (over 15kg) and Large Dogs over 25kg, all priced at £24 per month.

They also offer a Mixed Treat Selection for £14.99.

24. Tail Mail

Choose which Theme you would like! All of our Themes have 3-5 items, but each Theme has a bias to e.g. dogs that love to destroy things! ( N.B: Our Chews & Treats Box contains 3-4 items). All dogs are different, so our boxes are too! You can tailor your box, making Tail Mail a subscription for YOUR dog!

Your Tail Mail will arrive every month, and with no fixed contracts, you can stop at any time! Remember, you gain discounted boxes the longer you are with us for! Tail Mail is an expanding part of Ginger&Browns. The team use all their expertise, experience and education, as well as feedback and product testing through Ginger&Browns, to carefully select products for your Tail Mail subscription using the information you give us! There are six different types of boxes to choose from.

The Original Box (£24 monthly)- This box delivers a mixture of three to five high quality chews, treats, toys, grooming products or novel items. We search high and low to source exciting products with an emphasis on using independent UK-based producers. You tell us your dog’s likes and dislikes, and we tailor the contents to your pooch!

The Playful Pooch Box (£24 monthly)- This box delivers a mixture of three to five high quality chews, treats, toys, grooming products or novel items with an emphasis on encouraging your pooch to play! This includes products such as training treats, games, puzzles and toys. We search high and low to source exciting products with an emphasis on using independent UK-based producers. You tell us your dog’s likes and dislikes, and we tailor the contents to your pooch!

The Wholesome Hound Box (£24 monthly) – This box delivers a mixture of three to five high quality chews, treats, toys, grooming products or novel items with an emphasis on products that are grain-free, low fat, contain all natural ingredients, made from sustainable materials or otherwise Eco-friendly. We search high and low to source exciting products with an emphasis on using independent UK-based producers. You tell us your dog’s likes and dislikes, and we tailor the contents to your pooch!

The Destroyer Box (£24 monthly) – This box delivers a mixture of three to five high quality chews, treats, toys, grooming products or novel items. Although nothing is ever indestructible to dogs, with these items your dog can really get their teeth into them, and they will be extra-durable and should last them longer than standard ones. We search high and low to source exciting products with an emphasis on using independent UK-based producers. You tell us your dog’s likes and dislikes, and we tailor the contents to your pooch!

The Chews & Treats Box (£12 monthly)- This box delivers a mixture of three to four high quality chews and treats. Chewing is an effective way of keeping your dog’s teeth and gums in good health, and this box is a great way to be introduced to new ideas! We search high and low to source exciting products with an emphasis on using independent UK-based producers. You tell us your dog’s likes and dislikes, and we tailor the contents to your pooch!

The Multi-Mutt Box (£43 monthly) – This monthly subscription delivers two themes! You can tell us which two you would like in the questions below, and see more information about each theme in the “Our Boxes” tab at the top of this screen! We deliver the multi-dog box with the two themes wrapped separately inside a single box, and pass on the delivery savings to you, giving you a £5 saving on buying two separate boxes!

So if you are looking for a gift for your fur baby this Christmas check these out, if you know of any more, let me have the link and I will include it.

Merrie The Newfoundland Puppy has arrived!

On Friday morning we travelled to Saltash in Cornwall to collect Merrie, when we arrived we were greeted by her very gorgeous and over exuberant dad Bob, and a much more sedate mum Bracken, out of a litter of 11 there were only three puppies remaining, and they were all due to be with their new owners by Monday, which I can only assume will be quite strange for Bracken and Bob, a bit like when all the children have flown the nest!

Merrie was in to everything! She was exploring and climbing, just as we were discussing all of the dos and donts in her puppy pack, she decided to sit in the muddiest puddle EVER! Needless to say I had to change my top within 5 minutes of being in the car as I was covered!

She took to the collar and seatbelt harness really well and she was very content the entire journey back to Norfolk, she only needed the toilet once and depite us stopping on numerous occasions, she decided to do both whilst travelling along the motorway! Thankfully Neva was able to catch it all in the puppy pads we had laid down!

When we arrived at our house she had a good explore and we ensured we took her straight outside to the place where we wanted her to go to the toilet, which she did (thankfully)

It was quite late when we arrived home (approx 8pm) so we gave her a little of the food that was in her puppy pack, unsure if she would eat it, but she gobbled it down very happily. She woke at 12.30 went outside to the toilet and then settled until 5.30am, so not too bad, check back to see how she gets on over the next couple of weeks!

Welcome to Big Dog Little Adventures!

Hi, My name is Mandi, you can find out more about me and my family over at Big Family Organised Chaos and Big Family Little Adventures.

This blog has been started to document our life with Merrie the Newfoundland.

Ever since I saw the Newfoundland Rescue Display Team at a Gala in 1999, I have wanted to own a Newfoundland, and little did I know that Asa my husband had been wanting one for years, even before we had met. We now feel that the time is right to fulfil that dream. Our youngest child Viggo is now 4 and big enough to cope with a bouncy puppy, we have lots of willing volunteers to help take care of Merrie, in the older children.

We began searching a few months ago and found a lovely litter in Cornwall, which is quite a way to go, but we are very happy with our choice. We debated for a few days trying to decide on a name we all agreed with and eventually we chose Merrie.

Her mum is known as Lady Legolas and dad is Onyx Odyssey. She is black with some small bits of white, this was the photo that made our mind up which puppy to choose.

We collect Merrie on Friday and everyone is VERY excited!