4Paws offers a wide variety of services including dog walking, dog boarding, doggy daycare and lots of other interesting things. If you live in Islington and need a helping hand with your hound then you know where to go.
Wednesday 27 May 2009
4Paws Outdoors comes to Barnsbury
There are times when most of us could do with a helping hand caring for our dogs. Be it going on holiday, working, or just an evening out sometimes you need someone to let the dog out or take it for a walk - this is where 4Paws Outdoors steps in.
Tuesday 26 May 2009
Check out 4Paws Outdoors...
A new Barnsbury based dogwalking service which also offers doggy daycare, boarding, puppy playgroups and much more.
4Paws Outdoors
4Paws Outdoors
Monday 25 May 2009
Poisonous plants and other household dangers
Now that summer is in sight many people's minds will be turning to gardening. There's nothing nicer than having a bit of outdoor space for your pet to relax in. However if like me you have dogs that like to eat plants it's important to make sure there are no hidden dangers in your garden. An easy way to do this is by reading the Dogs Trust pamphlet detailing which plants and household objects are poisonous.
Saturday 23 May 2009
BBC3 - my weapon is a dog
Last night there was a great programme on BBC3 which dealt with the phenomenon of 'dangerous' dogs being used as weapons. If you have the time to watch it then please do, it's very pertinent not only to this blog but to the situation with dogs in cities more generally.
There's still time to watch the programme both on iPlayer and over the next few days when it is shown at the following times:
Friday 22 May 2009
Post holiday hello
Firstly I'd like to say 'hello' to everybody who reads this blog. I've not posted for a while as I've been out of the country amongst other things. However I'm back now with more information for residents of Barnsbury and their pooches.
One of the best things about Barnsbury is, in my mind, Barnsbury Square. Having spent a few months looking for a suitable space to socialise my two little hounds I discovered the square. Initially I had been doing loops of the area, taking in Thornhill Square, Barnard Park - top and bottom, Thornhill Gardens and Barnsbury Square.
Unfortunately however I had several close shaves with other dogs in Barnard Park . On one occasion a group of Staffies which were off the lead charged at my Scrap while he was still tiny - out of the blue and completely unprovoked. It was clear that as a pack they viewed him as prey and would have treated him as such had they managed to get hold of him. Luckily another dog owner was sitting on one of the benches and managed to grab him as he ran by.
A few weeks later Scrap was charged by a 3 legged rescue Greyhound - although the Greyhound was muzzled he managed to scoop and flip Scrap several feet into the air. Luckily it appears Papillon pups are less fragile than they look! This just goes to show that muzzling does not mean your dog can't be injured - this scoop and flick is something I have often seen - particularly in sight hounds - with the intention of breaking the prey's neck.
The final straw was when I learnt that a particular Akita that uses the park has killed at least one smaller dog. I was outraged by this - not just because such a dog was being walked off the lead and unmuzzled in a public space, but because I had specifically asked the owner whether he was friendly towards smaller puppies and been assured that he 'loved them'.
After those episodes I realised that allowing my dogs into the Barnard 'Dog' Park was jeopardising their safety and so I gave up going. I felt disappointed by this as I am a firm believer in socialising pups with as broad a range of other breeds as possible but I can't risk their lives for my ideals.
Sadly I soon stopped walking over the other side of Barnard Park for similar reasons - on several occasions my dogs were pinned down by much larger, out of control breeds. It had come to the stage where I was wondering whether there was anywhere nearby where my dogs could safely stretch their legs and thankfully there was - Barnsbury Square.
The great thing about the Square is that it is frequented by smaller, nicer and typically better behaved dogs than anywhere else I've been to in Islington. I believe this is due to the great community spirit in the Square, greatly fostered by the Friends of Barnsbury Square. I can't think of anything that better represents English Community and its quirks than the regular Tuesday afternoon tea and biscuits for dogs, owners, and anyone else who cares to join.
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