Dogs Watching Polo with the Queen

Today a friend and I took our dogs to watch the final of the Royal Windsor Cup. Polo as a sport is remarkably dog friendly, but I was worried that we would have to leave our dogs in the car for such a prestigious event, after all the Queen was there! That was definitely not the case! It seemed that every time I turned my attention from the polo (which I'll admit was not that often, it was truly gripping) I saw another dog. During the treading in (or "stomping the divots" as we call it in America) there were dozens of dogs out with the girls in sundresses and heels and men in tweed, all covered up with Barbours against the wind. I'm sure Her Majesty would have approved of the canine presence, being a dog lover herself.

I don't believe there is another sport which is so open to dogs. Where else could you have your dogs on you lap or at your feet in the grandstand, which a human would have to pay good money for, and watch the match? Not even other equestrian sports have such a welcoming attitude towards dogs. One could argue that dog-related sports such as agility are more "dog-friendly" but I disagree, because in these sports dogs as competitors are treated differently and spectator dogs are usually not allowed in the bleachers. As far as I can tell polo is by and large the most dog-friendly sport in the UK and US today, and perhaps elsewhere.

Treading in - Her Majesty the Queen in the background

Whippet enjoying a view from the grandstand

If you want to take your dog to polo within reach of London check out Guards Polo Club: http://www.guardspoloclub.com/   or for a bit further look at Cowdray Park Polo Club: http://www.cowdraypolo.co.uk/ 

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Begging Dogs

If you have ever owned or even known a dog you are probably familiar with the "sad puppy eyes." These are deviously effective at making any human in possession of food feel guilty and sometimes they are so effective they cause said human to relinquish their food to the dog. This form of begging is seen often in pubs, where a human's delicious burger is placed right at nose level for many dogs.

This behavior might be cute, but it can lead to whining which upsets other customers and may get you and your dog kicked out. At the very least it may put you off your food which defeats the whole point of going to the pub or restaurant in the first place!

The best way to deal with this is to completely ignore your dog while they are begging. It's much easier said than done! I have been known to slip a french fry or 12 to my dog under the table, but ONLY when she is minding her own business, and this is still not advisable for dogs that beg badly (it's probably not advisable for my dog either, but she has me well trained)
. Definitely don't give your dog any food if they make any noise.

You can also try practicing at home, have your dog at your feet while you eat your dinner and completely ignore any noise make while you are eating. For some dogs bringing a bone with you to the pub might help, that way they have something tasty to munch on while you have your food.

I would love to hear any suggestions, please comment if you have any tips or tricks for stopping dogs from begging!

Dogs, Tourists and Children

Today was a glorious Bank Holiday Monday. The sun was out, and so were the crowds. Zorra and I went out for a walk, as did thousands of other dogs and their owners. Parks, especially those in London, are shared spaces. This means that even though we would love to let our dogs race around in wide open spaces with only the buildings poking over the trees to remind us that we are not in the wilds of Devon, we are instead affronted with thousands of locals and tourists of all ages.

I can say from personal experience that not all picnic goers are thrilled by the addition of a large, happy, bouncing dog to their party. Some people are genuinely pleased to have a dog say hello, but it is particularly important to keep an eye on the faces of the people that your dog is approaching. Recall is so important when there are crowds.

Children are a completely mixed bag when it comes to dogs. Today Zorra induced three very different reactions from children in the park. Several recoiled and shrinked away at the mere sight of a big black dog. When I was a child I never understood those types of kids, but as long as your dog ignores them as Zorra did you can move on without incident. If your dog tries to approach these kids DO NOT let them! You could cause the child to become even more afraid, and remember that scared children often come with over-protective parents. Another reaction was scared children with parents who desperately wanted the kids to say hi to the dog. This is a tricky situation, and it really depends on the temperament of your dog. If you have a very calm, steady dog who will just sit there as the child decides if they want to approach then fine, but if your dog will react at all it is probably best to just move on. It is not your job to get someone else's kid to love dogs.

The third reaction from a child that Zorra caused today was particularly funny. While we were playing fetch a small girl, not even 2 years old, slowly toddled over from where her family was having a picnic. I could see her coming, so I stopped playing and told Zorra to lie down. The girl reached us around the same time that her father saw and sprinted over. She desperately wanted to pet the dog, but at the same time she did not want to relinquish the sandwich she was clutching. This was a predicament, because Zorra was starting to eye up the sandwich. She would never snatch it from someone, but I was still worried as this was a very small child. The father tried to take the sandwich from the girl, but she cried so he gave it back. Then she did something very surprising, this tiny little girl offered her sandwich to a dog that was three times her size. Zorra obviously took it, then ran away and the girl started to cry. I had to wonder if the girl was crying because of the loss of the sandwich or the absence of the dog. Either way, this was the kind of kid that I could relate to.

Dog Friendly in London - The Feathers

The Feathers pub near St James' Park tube stop has proven itself to be an exceptionally dog friendly pub. We went in happy hour, it was packed full of Westminster office workers for an after work pint but there was still room for us. Loads of people came over to pat the dog; I think Zorra brightened the day of many a Parliamentarian tonight! The staff were incredibly dog friendly, and turned a blind eye when Zorra slipped her collar and I had to chase her upstairs. The Feathers has definitely become a new favorite!

Not Everybody Likes Dogs - Stop your dog from jumping on the wrong people

It may seem strange for Dogs Allowed to be blogging about people who don't like dogs, but in many ways they are as, if not more, important to think about when you are taking your dog out in public. My crazy, lovely, adorable Flatcoat loves people and has learned which people love her. It's amazing to watch how she reacts to different people.

Gordon's Wine Bar last night proved the perfect example. We were standing at a barrel at Gordon's with our wine and Zorra was on a lead but was standing in the path between the rows of tables. Most people Zorra looked at and wagged her tail, but did nothing more when they simply walked passed. Others stopped and said hello, and she wriggled and licked them and generally got happy and excited. Nothing, however, could compare to her reaction to a man who actively wanted her to jump on him. I've seen this happen several times, Zorra gets excited because someone is giving her attention, and it escalates until she has her paws on the person's shoulders licking their face and ears. It usually happens because the person ASKS her to jump on them!

For many people, this is not the reaction they want from a dog. As a dog owner you have to be very aware of how people are responding to your dog's presence. Particularly with young, excitable dogs it is important to keep them under control whenever a new person comes to say hello.

1) Before taking your dog to a public place try to wear them out by taking them for a run or other exercise.

2) If your dog is particularly hyperactive keep treats to distract them when small children are around. Kids and dogs can be great together, but you can also put someone off dogs for life by scaring them when they are a child. Introduce your dog to children when they are puppies, if possible, so that they stay calm when they see them later in life.

3) YOU take responsibility for your dog. If your dog is too young or inexperienced to gauge people's reactions then you have to do it for them. If someone seems hesitant, then hold your dog back.

4) FIRST teach a dog NEVER to jump up, then when they are older and they can understand when someone is asking them to jump up they can be allowed to do so. Some dogs should never be allowed to do this, it all depends on the individual. I am blessed with a particularly socially-aware dog who can tell the difference, but not all dogs can.

5) Teach your dog to sit before they are allowed to say hello to someone, this will help your dog learn to control themselves.

The more crowded the place the better behaved your dog has to be. As dog owners we act as dog ambassadors every time we take our dog in public, please take steps to make sure you make a good impression! Also see our tips on getting your dog to behave in public.

Easter and Chocolate Poisoning

Easter is a great holiday to spend with friends and family, and the family dog! While we love chocolate at Easter, we have to remember that it is poisonous to dogs. Eating chocolate can lead to theobromine poisoning in dogs. Dark chocolate is much more deadly than milk chocolate due to it's higher coco content. Mild cases of theobromine poisoning cause vomiting and diarrhea while severe cases can lead to seizures, rapid heart rate, hyperactivity, respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. While there is no need to freak out if your dog eats a tiny bit of chocolate, if they eat over 100 milligrams of theobromine per kilogram body weight it could kill them. The amount of theobromine in chocolate varies depending on the type, the worst being high cocoa and bakers chocolate. If you aren't sure how much your dog has eaten, take them to the vet.

Here are some tips for keeping your dog safe over Easter:

1) If you are having an Easter Egg Hunt which involves leaving chocolate around keep your dog inside during the hunt and make sure ALL of the chocolate is picked up before letting him/her out.

2) Where possible try to use milk or white chocolate, if you dog eats milk chocolate they may still have to go to the vets but the consequences will be much milder.

3) Any dark chocolate you do have at Easter do not use in an egg hunt, leaving chocolate on the floor or hidden in bushes is asking for a dog to eat it.

If you dog does eat chocolate, keep calm and call your vet. In most cases, especially in big dogs, it's not a big deal because most of the chocolate that humans eat is fairly low in cocoa content. Your dog will most likely have a stomach ache unless they have eaten a LOT of dark chocolate. Always best to be safe, keep chocolate out of reach, and if in doubt call you vet.

Doggie Day Care in London

This makes me want to be a dog! They get picked up while their owners are at work and get to play the whole day in the country, all for only £25 (only slightly more than the average hour long walk).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2152992/The-doggie-creche-owners-barking-demand-mutts-eggs-benedict-breakfast--Not-mention-Radio-4-chauffeured-ride-home.html