28/07/2009 by Jen.

One of the hardest things about owning a pet is when it is time to say goodbye.  We lost a very special friend today.  Joey was Willows friend who we would meet up for long walks in the countryside.  Joey was one of a kind and had such a loving and happy nature.  We will miss him so much and will never ever forget him.  I cannot imagine the woods, fields or river without him being there.  Rest in peace dear Joey.  We were privileged to have known you but you were too young to leave us!

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16/07/2009 by Jen.

Just a quick follow up from a previous post where I wrote about some of the wonderful furry friends I am privileged to look after.  I had mentioned that I used to walk a dog named Ben and I was missing him.  Well, I am very pleased to say that he is back and I have been walking him daily again for the last two weeks.  He is still a challenge getting going sometimes, especially with some of the heavy showers we have been experiencing lately but we are getting back into the old routine again and we are enjoying some great walks together!  It was fabulous being able to see him again and he certainly remembered me…and which pocket I keep treats in!!

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16/07/2009 by Jen.

Last night while watching the news, I saw a clip on the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary.  Due to the recession, they are really struggling to keep going.  They need £500,000 a year to pay for the care of all the stray animals at their centre and they rely on donations.  As things stand now, they can only keep going for another month and they will be forced to close.  If this happens, they will try to find other rescue centres to take in their strays but they are all struggling at the moment as there are so many owners that are no longer able to keep their pets due to financial hardships.  There is a very real possibility that some of the animals will have to be euthanized, just because there is no where for them to go.  I find this incredibly sad!  You can read about the story in the Oxford Mail http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/search/4474655.Sanctuary__28_Days_Left/

If anyone reading this can help out, it would make so much difference to them.  Even if it is just a few £ a month or adopting a homeless animal from them or even volunteer a few hours to walk some dogs…every little bit helps.  If they can get enough people to donate just £2 a month, they will be able to continue with the excellent work they have been doing.  Their website is at http://www.oxfordshireanimalsanctuary.org.uk/index.html if you are able to help out at all.  We have signed up to start a monthly donation towards the animals.  Together, we can save some animals lives!  They don’t deserve to die!

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24/06/2009 by Jen.

It is hard to believe that a full year has gone by since I first started up Tail Blazers and what a year it has been. Some people think that being a dog walker – pet sitter is an easy job. It isn’t. It is hard work and very tiring sometimes. Do I have any regrets about starting this business? No way! This is the best and most rewarding job I have ever had. I have met some beautiful animals and their fantastic owners. I consider it a real privilege to be entrusted to look after these precious furry friends. Even when I am tired or thoroughly soaking and cold, I just have to take one look into those dogs eyes and see their happy wagging tails to know that this is all worth while. Their enthusiasm wears off on me no matter what the conditions. Let me tell you about some of the friends I have met on Tail Blazers Adventures so far.

Maggie was the first cat booking I signed up. She is a beautiful, majestic older cat that is so friendly. She hears me come through that front door and comes for a fuss, meowing loudly. Maggie loves to be able to explore out in her fantastic back yard. Nice roll in the grass and good sniff about and she is a happy little one! I miss having cats of my own but I am not able to since my Border collie Willow would make any cats life a misery. So I enjoy having the opportunity to meet and care for other peoples cats. 

  Andy and Fergie are two Border collies that I have been lucky enough to get to know. They are as different as chalk and cheese but they are both special in their own way and both have a place in my heart. Fergie is the older dog of the two and has a touch of arthritis but that doesn’t stop her from chasing her ball or a stick. She loves to chase and I think she would continue playing until she dropped if I let her. Fergie is very obedient and is a real sweetheart to care for. It is hard not to have a soft spot for her. Andy is still a youngster and full of energy. He is a very handsome chap…and I think he knows it! As Andy has been so well socialised, he loves nothing more than a good play with other dogs in the park. If no one else is around, he will steal Fergie’s ball to tease her and get her to chase him. He is the typical type of Border collie with boundless energy. He even has his picture in the new book How to Train a Superdog by Gwen Bailey but he hasn’t let success go to his head too much!

Then there is little Keoki who isn’t so little anymore! She is a beautiful labradoodle who I started walking when she was just a little puppy. She has really grown into a beautiful dog and I think she will have a very calm nature once she is completely past the puppy stage. She is incredibly strong on her lead and loves to meet other dogs, chase birds, leaves blowing in the wind and balls when she gets a chance to get off lead. Her owners are hoping to move to the countryside so I hope our walks just get better in the coming year.

 Ahhh, Jess! Now she is a fantastic yellow lab that I love to walk. She has so much energy and enthusiasm yet has a really sweet nature. No matter what Mother Nature throws at us, she always looks happy. Her eyes sparkle, tail is constantly wagging and even looks like she is smiling when she looks up at me. Her owners have done a brilliant job with obedience training so she responds to me really well. Especially if there is a treat involved. She does love her treats! I think if she could stand on her head for a treat, she would! I don’t have to worry when I walk Jess as I know she won’t run off and will listen to me when I need her to.

Then we have sensitive and very sweet little Donut. Donut is a beagle who has lovely markings and a gorgeous little face. I first started walking her when she was a puppy and the first day I met her, I thought she would be a handful. I could tell by looking in her eyes that she was highly intelligent and also had a bit of a naughty streak. She looked around as if she was trying to figure out what she could get up to next. The owners and I found she was really very hyper when they fed her the special doggy sausage treats. Once that was stopped, Donut just seemed to calm right down. Now she is just over a year and is really a good dog to walk. She loves to walk with Jess and she does get much better exercise as she chases Jess in the woods and fields. Jess absolutely adores Donut too so the two of them are a perfect match to walk together. Donut can be a little stubborn when she wants to be but I think all beagles are like that! She gets so tired on the walk that when we arrive back home, she is in her bed and fast asleep snoring while I write a note to her owners telling them about her adventures. Bless! Job well done when I can bring back a tired dog that is happy to sleep until their owners come back home!

I have found that the hardest part of my job is saying goodbye when an assignment comes to an end. This brings me to Ben. Ben is a bit of a Heinz 57…possibly part whippet or lab. He is an old boy and likes his sleep. The first challenge for me when I went to see him each day was to find his hiding spot where he would be snoozing away. When I first starting walking Ben, I found it a bit difficult as many times he just didn’t want to go although he could be tempted with treats! Once I got to know Ben, I found that he liked to lead. If I let him choose which way he wanted to go on a walk, he was much happier and he led me on some awesome and very interesting walks around a local college. I think his intention was to make his rounds of all the bins, in case one of the students had dropped a sandwich, which he would happily gobble up. He wasn’t too pleased if it was raining but if the weather was good, he had more enthusiasm. Ben was a real character and I miss walking him every day. His owners’ circumstances changed so that they no longer needed me. Saying goodbye that last day was heart wrenching and I still often think about him and the walks he took me on. Miss you Ben!! Every day was different and I never knew where I would end up from one day to the next.

I have a few other furry friends that I will write about another time. I need to get some pictures of them as well. It has been a truly awesome year and I hope it just gets better. I can’t wait to see what new pets I will meet in my second year! 　

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07/07/2008 by Jen.

Have a look at this little video that a friend sent to me!  Well this is one way to tire out a cat! 

Treadmill Cats

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07/07/2008 by Jen.

One thing I have learned through my canine psychology courses is the importance of playing with a dog.  It isn’t always enough to just take a dog for a walk but also playing games with them helps stimulate them mentally as well as physically.  This is especially important with dogs that are working breeds.  A dog that is bored is more likely to look for his own ways to amuse himself such as tearing chunks out of the couch, chewing shoes, ripping wallpaper off the walls…well I am sure you get the idea!

There is a great little booklet that I recommend called ‘Let’s Play With Our Dog’, written by Dee Woodcock.  In the booklet, Dee talks about why play is important, how dogs learn, which toys are great and which should be avoided.  She also lists 27 different things that an owner can teach a dog through play.  All great ways to mentally stimulate a dog and to build up a good relationship and bond with the dog.  If you are interested in this little booklet, Amazon has it for sale at this link. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Play-Our-Dog-Woodcock/dp/0954163621/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215425049&sr=8-1

One of my dog’s favourite games is chasing a ball.  As Willow is a border collie, she has a very high chase instinct and will happily chase a ball for hours.  One of the best investments I made was buying a chuck it stick.  It didn’t cost very much but Willow has had hours of enjoyment from it.  It is a curved plastic stick with a cup shape at one end to scoop up the ball.  The ball can then be thrown a good distance, much further than I can throw it by hand, so Willow gets a lot of running exercise and I don’t have to keep picking up a slobbery ball!!  The first day I took Willow for a walk with our new chuck it stick, I must have thrown the ball hundreds of times!  She just couldn’t get enough and I ended up with a very sore arm the next morning when I discovered muscles I didn’t know existed!

Another great toy that has brought Willow hours of enjoyment is a ‘Kong’  A Kong is a plastic hollow toy that treats can be stuffed inside.  I started filling it and hiding it somewhere in the house.  Willow then has to find it first, which is a great way to mentally stimulate her.  She then has to work out how to get the food out of the Kong, first starting to chew it to dislodge some pieces and then throwing it about the house in the hopes of a treat falling out.  She loves it and it certainly keeps her busy and happy for a quite a while.  An additional advantage is that chewing on the Kong helps keep her teeth clean.

Each dog is different and will have their own preferences to favourite games and toys to play with.  The trick is to find one that does engage the dog and keeps him entertained and active. 

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03/07/2008 by Jen.

Anyone that knows me, probably knows I have a soft spot for rescue dogs and cats.  Willow, the border collie we have now is a rescue dog and although she has been a lot of hard work, I cannot express enough how much she has come to mean to me.  She learned to place her trust in us when others had let her down and has become such a wonderful friend.  Our walks each morning are always special and I wouldn’t give that up for anything, even when the heavens open up and we get soaked!  She still has fun no matter what the weather and I love to see her joyfully running and playing with her tail held high and wagging happily.

Helping a rescue pet is the most gratifying experience.  Knowing that you have given them a better life than the one they had and you have helped them along the way.  All they want is to be loved and treated with respect.  It isn’t too much to ask!  And they give so much back in return.  I couldn’t ask for a better friend!

Yesterday I accidentally stumbled upon a website called Many Tears Animal Rescue that really moved me.  It is a rescue centre in Wales that has only been going since January 2007.  I was humbled and touched with the work that they have done and are still continuing to do to help homeless dogs and cats.  At times, I had tears in my eyes reading it and other times I was laughing at the antics of the dogs.  Thank God there are people in this world that are willing to help so many pets that need someone to care for them.  Have a look at the site at http://www.manytears.co.uk/

If anyone reading this is ever considering getting a new furry friend, please think about the rescue animals that are looking for homes!  There are many different rescue centres around the UK, all doing their best to help.  I would also love to hear from others that have taken a rescue pet into their homes so don’t hesitate to post your stories.

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30/06/2008 by Jen.

CAT:

1) Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As the cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2) Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3) Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4) Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5) Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6) Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and vigorously rub cat’s throat.

7) Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make a note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9) Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10) Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11) Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of your last tetanus jab. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12) Ring fire brigade to retrieve the friggin’ cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13) Tie the little @#!*#^~!’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining room table, find heavy duty Pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

14) Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15) Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and ring local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

DOG: Wrap pill in bacon, cheese or peanut butter. Make him beg.

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30/06/2008 by Jen.

GOLDEN RETRIEVER: The sun is shining. The day is young. We’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, and you’re inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

BORDER COLLIE: Just one. And then I’ll replace any wiring that’s not up to code.

DACHSHUND: You know I can’t reach that stupid lamp!

ROTTWEILER: Make me.

LAB: Oh, me, me!!!! Pleeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I?

GERMAN SHEPHERD: I’ll change it as soon as I’ve led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven’t missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

TIBETIAN TERRIER: Let the Border Collie do it. You can feed me while he’s busy.

JACK RUSSELL TERRIER: I’ll just pop it in while I’m bouncing off the walls and furniture.

POODLE: I’ll just blow in the Border Collie’s ear and he’ll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

COCKER SPANIEL: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

DOBERMAN: While it’s dark, I’m going to sleep on the couch.

BOXER: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark….

CHIHUAHUA: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.

IRISH WOLFHOUND: Can somebody else do it? I’ve got this hangover….

POINTER: I see it. There it is. There it is, right there….

GREYHOUND: It isn’t moving. Who cares?

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD: First, I’ll put all the light bulbs in a little circle…

OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOG: Light bulb? I’m sorry, but I don’t see a light bulb….

HOUND DOG: ZZZZZZzzzzz.z.z.z..z..z..z…z

CAT: Dogs do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the question is: How long will it be ! before I can expect light? Will you people hurry up?!

ALL OF WHICH PROVES, ONCE AGAIN, THAT WHILE DOGS HAVE MASTERS, CATS HAVE STAFF.

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27/06/2008 by Jen.

Hello all

I have decided to write a list of FAQ’s as I get them.  I will be updating them as I go along so please check back again or if you have other questions, do not hesitate to ask me.

What areas do I walk in?

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