Exercising isn't just about daily walks. Discover puppy games that help improve concentration and engage their brain. We can get into the habit of thinking that exercising our puppies is just about regular daily walks – and there is no doubt that our dogs benefit from these, but exercise isn’t just about stimulating the body. The opportunity to exercise your puppy’s brain can help in their development and make it easier to teach them tricks and puppy commands. It’s also a fun and interactive way to bond with your puppy and improve your relationship. Keep reading to find out what games for dogs you could try! Brain games for your puppy Problem-solving and mental stimulation are all about using your puppy’s natural enthusiasm for play and games, along with their hardwired behaviours and often-underestimated intelligence, to work out puzzles and learn new skills. For most puppies, using their brains in this way can stimulate them and tire them out. Puppies are full of energy but their bodies aren’t yet fully developed, so it can be hard to give them the exercise they need to burn off all the excess energy without straining still-growing muscles, joints and bones. Playing games and puzzles will give them more exercise and prevent them from chewing on your furniture. There are different types of games for dogs to play, including dog puzzles to stimulate their brains and keep them active. Some will be able to turn their paw to all of them, while others will have very clear favourites. It’s up to you to discover what you and your puppy enjoy. Hide and seek puppy games These can be played anywhere in the house or garden and even during your regular walks. To start this dog game, have someone to help you who can hold your puppy. Show your puppy that you have some treats, then go off and hide somewhere, ideally in a spot that’s fairly easy to find at first.

Senior cats may not be as active as they once were, but that does not mean that they do not want to play. Play is a necessary part of all pet lifestyles and it has important health benefits. All you need to do is better tailor the toys you buy them to their age and their needs, and you will have one happy cat! In this article, we’ll talk you through the best toys for senior cats and what to keep in mind when you play with your older cat. Factors to consider when playing with a senior cat As cats grow older, they naturally lose some of the energy and enthusiasm they had when they were kittens. A senior cat is usually one who is between 11 years and 15 years of age. Such cats may be slower, more lethargic and get tired more quickly. Here are some factors to consider when planning playtime with your cat. Pre-existing conditions that your cat may have When choosing what the best toys for your senior cat may be, it’s important to bear in mind any pre-existing health problems they may have. Cats who have weak hearts may not be able to run and jump so much, and it may be dangerous for them to get overexcited. Similarly, you may have to plan different play routines for cats with diabetes. Joint pain As your cat grows older, their joints may begin to hurt. Such cats may not be able to take too much strain on their joints. Running quickly or leaping especially may be out of the question. Energy levels Senior cats naturally have lower energy levels than kittens. Account for this when choosing toys, as it would not be wise to buy a toy that requires a lot of running and jumping and then have your cat be unable to play with it.

Cats don’t usually need baths, but there are some exceptional circumstances. If they’re rolled in something that they can’t wash off themselves, or they have long hair which has become matted, a bath might be a good idea. Most cats really dislike baths and they can find the experience very stressful. If you’re able to, just clean an isolated area, rather than getting their entire body wet. That said, there are rare occasions when bathing your cat is unavoidable, in which case there are ways to make the experience more comfortable for both of you. However, if your cat needs a bath because they’ve come into contact with toxic substances, take them to the vet first. Before you bathe your cat Get everything you need in one place, so that once you’ve started bathing your cat, everything is within easy reach. You’ll need: • A large plastic bucket, sink or bath (lined with a non-slip floor mat) to use as a cat bath. • Specialist cat or kitten shampoo. Find a mild all-rounder with no harsh chemicals or perfumes. Never use human shampoo, as it’s unsuitable for cat hair and skin due to the difference in p H levels. • A cat conditioner if required. Again, don’t use conditioner for human hair. • A towel or two. • A brush to help remove matts and knots.

Attention-seeking dog behaviour is common and normal in puppies. After all, they’ll want their mother to dote on them, will love playing with their littermates and will still be learning their rights from wrongs! Attention-seeking dog behaviour is common – and is a totally normal survival mechanism in puppies who rely totally on the care of their mother but as adult dogs, excessive jumping, pawing or barking is difficult to live with and can become annoying. What counts as attention-seeking dog behaviour? It’s quite normal for your new puppy to jump up at you when you greet them or feed them, or whine when you leave them alone but continuing excessive begging, nudging, whining, barking, jumping on furniture and bringing you toys as they get older may well be examples of attention-seeking. This may all seem harmless enough – and some dogs and breeds can be ‘needier’ than others - but excessive attention-seeking tends to be indicative of deeper problems.

As your cat grows and ages, over time they may become a little less agile than before. With older cats, you might see a drop off in physical activity and an increase in sleeping. While your cat may be in overall great shape for their age, it’s important to look out for any signs of joint problems and arthritis. This condition does affect cats and can be very uncomfortable, so keep on the lookout for the signs of cat arthritis. What is arthritis in cats? Arthritis is a condition that occurs as their joints naturally age and the cartilage material between the bones deteriorates and reduces flexibility. This causes the bones in their joints to rub together, resulting in stiffness and pain. Arthritis in cats is quite common and according to studies, around 80% of cats over the age of 10 have some form of the disease. What causes arthritis in cats? Arthritis in cats is caused when damage occurs to your cat’s joints, making them painful to move. Most commonly, arthritis in cats is a result of the ageing process as the cartilage between the joints deteriorates and reduces flexibility. However, younger cats can also get arthritis if they have suffered from an injury or infection in the joint. The most common type of arthritis in cats is osteoarthritis, which happens as a result of repeated wear and tear of joints, and can also develop as a result of a previous injury.

If you’re a dog owner you’re probably familiar with the constant stopping so they can sniff and you’ll likely respond to this by nudging them along – but did you know that sniffing is really important for them? Your dog’s sense of smell is pretty much a super power and their daily sniff routine can help them identify what’s happening in their environment as well as lower their stress levels. Getting out for a walk is one of life’s joys and it gives us a chance to experience all the sights and sounds of the great outdoors - whether on our regular walks or exploring new places. As we soak up these sensory experiences, we often forget that our dogs see the world very differently from us - and while we are looking at the sights, our dog is discovering far more about the area by its smells. So often owners get irritated that while they want to stride off across the countryside or have an active walk around the park to make sure their dog gets their daily exercise, their dog pretty much ignores them while he puts his nose down and ‘just’ sniffs. It’s easy to drag them away thinking they are wasting precious exercise time but that’s purely because we do not have anything even close to a dogs sense of smell, and we don’t understand just how fabulous our dog’s nose is - or that this incredible ability means that unlike us, they see the world in smell-o-vision. While they are sniffing, they are finding out about the area, who lives there, who has passed by recently, and even what kind of mood they are in. All the time they are sniffing, they are processing information about the environment and who and what is in it.

Your cat probably has lots of quirky habits, which is one of the many reasons they’re so much fun to be with. But sometimes their behaviour can surprise you – maybe yours has been scratching and clawing things you don’t want them to, for example, or shredding an innocent pair of curtains. We often associate chewed-up furnishings and general mayhem with mischievous or anxious dogs, but a destructive pet with cat behaviour problems can do their fair share of damage too. As cats have evolved to be top-of-the-food-chain predators, aggression is an integral part of their behaviour. Cats use aggression for lots of reasons, such as catching and killing prey, defending themselves and their territory, and warding off competitors. Hopefully your cat shouldn’t show aggression towards you at home, but if they do there are certain things you can do to understand and resolve any issues. Why is my cat aggressive? If your cat is being aggressive, you need to ask why. Are they fearful or anxious about something? Are they in pain? Are they defending their territory? Are they simply playing too boisterously and not keeping their teeth and claws in check? Or does it seem that they’re pursuing you as if you’re their prey? There are many reasons why cats demonstrate aggressive behaviour, and most of them are normal, if not inappropriate for a home environment.

Many dogs suffer from kennel cough at least once in their lives. Read our guide to find out about possible symptoms and how to treat it. Many dogs get kennel cough during their lives. It’s a common infection of the respiratory system with symptoms like coughing and hacking. It sounds bad but usually clears up without needing treatment. Read our guide to find out what causes kennel cough in dogs, how it spreads and how to treat it. What is kennel cough? Kennel cough is the common name for canine infectious tracheobronchitis. It’s a respiratory infection in dogs caused by a wide range of bacteria and viruses. Itshighly contagious and the main symptom is a harsh, hacking cough. Kennel cough creates an inflammation of the dog’s upper respiratory tract, including the trachea (wind pipe) and larynx (voice box). What causes kennel cough in dogs? The illness can be caused by a number of different bacteria and viruses, and sometimes a combination of both. Dogs become infected when they inhale these bacteria or virus particles into their respiratory tract. The most common cause is a bacteria strain called Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is why some people call kennel cough Bordetella. But dogs are more likely to be infected by Bordetella when their immune system is weakened, usually by an infection from a virus. Some viruses known to make dogs more susceptible to kennel cough include canine adenovirus, canine distemper virus, canine herpes, parainfluenza virus and canine reovirus.

Our dogs have always been our most loyal companions, so it's only natural that we want to know as much as we can about them. Keep reading for our top 15 dog facts that you won't believe! Our dogs have always been our best friends, our loyal companions and most importantly, our family. So it’s only natural that we are completely fascinated by dog facts and information. We’re utterly besotted with our four-pawed friends and want to discover absolutely everything possible about them, so when we hear a dog fact it fills us with a sense of joy and wonder. From why dog’s noses are wet, to the tallest dog in the world, prepare to have your mind blown with these amazing dog facts. Fun facts about dogs 1. Dogs noses are wet to help absorb scent chemicals This amazing dog fact might answer a long-standing question that dog owners have. Why are dogs noses wet? Vetstreet says that the answer is that dog’s noses are wet to help them absorb scent chemicals! Their nose secretes a special mucus that helps to absorb these chemicals, and then they lick their noses to sample them, helping them understand what the smell is.

Many households own a cat, but there's still so much that we don't know about them. From the unusual way they walk, to how big the largest cat is, we bet you haven't heard some of these fun facts! Cats are an enigma that have captured the hearts of people for thousands of years. Their mysterious personalities and adorable looks have made them an incredibly popular pet, With so many cats around us, surely that would mean that everyone knows everything possible about them, right? Wrong! There are so many interesting facts about cats that you probably haven’t heard of, from the world’s largest cat, to the surprising way they walk. Keep reading to find out more. We bet you haven’t heard some of these cat facts! Fun facts about cats 1. The oldest known pet cat existed 9,500 years ago This interesting fact about cats is guaranteed to wow at your next dinner party. Did you know that originally it was thought that Egyptians domesticated the cat? But in 2004, French archaeologists discovered a 9,500 year old cat grave in Cyprus. This makes this the oldest known pet cat and it predates Egyptian art about cats by over 4,000 years!