@thereallife_ofatlas
Hi Friends!
Can you believe we’re at the start of a new year already?! It only feels like yesterday that we were basking in the glorious summer sunshine (remember those long hot days?) and now it’s January. I do hope all you pups and pawrents had a great Christmas and New Year… Did you make any resolutions? Mine are to practice my recall (need to remember to put my listening ears on when we’re out), get the pawrents to take me on lots of interesting walks – including stops at the pub, where I will start learning to settle and be the best boy – and of course, trying to find ways of tricking the pawrents into giving me more treats! Haha!
Seeing as the pawrents have said they want to get healthier this year (I’ve heard that before…), getting out on lots of fun and exciting walks is a great start! In Norfolk and Suffolk we are very lucky to be surrounded by some beautiful countryside and I love going for long walks through the woods, across fields and also at the beach too. Mum and dad have tended to stick to the same places for walks, as I can be a bit of a Pully-Percy when I’m walking somewhere different as there’s always lots of interesting to smells to sniff out! But this year we are going to make it our mission to uncover lots of fresh and exciting routes, which we can then share with all of you lovely people!
A big thing that can help me concentrate better on my walks is food! Since I was a puppy, based on our trainer’s recommendation, mum and dad have hand-fed me 90% of my meals, which has a really positive effect on my engagement when I’m out walking, training etc. For my normal walks, we just use my kibble (Donk’s Dog Stuff – Salmon and Potato) but for training, or if I am going to be allowed off lead, they will also bring along a selection of treats to make sure I really pay attention! When you’re a total foodie like me, if there’s a chance that mum will pull a nice big bit of salmon stick or a mouth-watering sprat bite out of that treat bag, I’m going to be working twice as hard for her. As we’ve discussed before, mum and dad have had to work hard to find treats that are suitable for my sensitive stomach, and my kibble was no different. We tried a few brands before settling on this one and I’m so glad we found it, as it’s hypo-allergenic, and being salmon, is rich in omega 3 essential fatty acids, which are good for my skin and coat condition and joint health. Not to mention it’s super tasty!
Now dry kibble works well for us (you probably wouldn’t want to hand-feed wet dog food!), but there are also wet and raw food options available. There’s a huge selection of brands out there and so many variations within those categories – some people even feed mixtures of the different types. As with any change though, it is very important to seek professional advice from your vet before switching diets, particularly if switching to raw.
We’ll be back next time with an update on my pub dog progress, so until then, Happy New Year and I hope 2023 is off to a good start for you all! Bye for now Friends!
Atlas loves his donk’s dog bowl kibble! He absolutely gobbles it up. It’s available online from donk’s dog stuff where you can even have a monthly subscription to save on the cost. You can also pick it up at Barking Mad Dog & Behaviour company in Ilketshall St Lawrence in Suffolk.
If you’re looking to try your dog on raw food, then look no further than the Raw Dog Food Company. They offer a variety of brands and can take you through a personalised consultation process to make sure you’re well informed and your furry friend gets the right food for them!
