Pets@Home Christmas Additions

It's a little tradition of ours that once a month when we go and buy Archie's dog food we treat him to a little something whether its a new toy, or a ridiculously gigantic bone.

We walked into Pets@Home today and right smack at the front of the store was the Christmas isle!

I was in awe at the selection of stuff they had. It was like Santa's dog grotto! 

Big squishy stuffed presents, gingerbread men that made crunching sound, dangly Santa's and reindeer. There was also a 3ft bone!

Even though it's only October, I couldn't help but get him this Tuffie Penguin. Look how happy he is!

As it's our first Christmas with Archie we are going to have a very spoilt little sausage on our hands.

I've got my eye on the stuffed Christmas tree (in hopes that he won't destroy our own!) and the bone 4 times his size.

Does anyone else buy their pooch Christmas presents?

Archie's first Bark Beats

Today Archie received his first monthly subscription box.

Bark Beats!

For those of you that have not heard of Bark Beats - They are a company who send out boxes full of goodies that is shipped out at the end of every month. They contain treats, toys and other lovely bits and bobs for your pooch as well as lots of well known suppliers such as Kong and Good Boy. 

They retail at £19.99 but you can usually find some form of discount code for your first box to give them a try. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Your also doing your bit for the pooch's as 10% of their profits go towards a dog based charity such as PDSA, RSPCA and Animal Welfare Shelters across the country.

The September box contained:

Moody Pet HumungaStache Mini

Kong Air Dog Squeaky Ball

Barks&Sparks Croissant

Soopa Natural Sweet Potato Chews

Feelwells Training Treats

The Croissant went down very well. They are quite hard but Archie soon hoovered up all the crumbs.

The Sweet Potato Chews are really great and will definitely come in handy for when we leave the house - Archie usually follows us so its good to have something to distract him with so we can get away.

Archie also really liked the training treats and has even started to "rollover".

The Kong ball seems very strong although I am only basing this on the fact that Archie has had it for a few hours and has not ripped it to pieces.

The Moustache however was not as strong and has already been chewed. Unfortunately Archie doesn't get how to bite it and I haven't been able to get a hilarious picture yet...hopefully there is still time.

All in all I think its a great little treat for your money.

We are very much looking forward to the Halloween October addition.

Thank you Bark Beats!

My little shadow - Part 1

I'm in the bathroom...he jumped off the bed, followed me down the landing and waited for me. He then trotted after me and jumped back on the bed.

Night folks x

"Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!"

2 weeks ago we took a family trip to the seaside.

It wasn't the greatest of weather but we haven't done anything nice for a while so we jumped in the car and drove 2 hours to Ingoldmels (which has the closest dog friendly beach)

We packed some treats, toys, bed and water to keep Archie entertained on the way. Seeing as his is the longest he has ever travelled for he was an absolute angel! Constantly looking out the window and checking out what was going on.

When we finally got to he beach it was practically deserted due to the slightly gloomy weather so we let Archie off his lead and he went for it! He absolutely loved he sand and it somehow gave him more speed than he already has. He was quite literally running circles around us.

We then ran into the sea - he wasn't too sure about this. He would patter about in the shallowest wave but other than that didn't fancy the water...until we threw his ball in.

Like a lifeguard jumping in to save a drowning child he went straight in, no questions asked after his ball. We then spent the next hour throwing it into the waves for him to fetch.

We then had some fish and chips (even Archie had a sneaky bit) and drove home. Archie slept the whole way home.

It's been a while...

Hi guys!

It's been a while since I've blogged about our little fluff ball! I tell you what it's bloody stressful having a pooch about! Anyway here's an update of what's been going on!

After many, many incidents we have finally cracked the chewing (RIP to all those shoes, bags and other random items that were lost in this long process - such as a wooden "HOME" block and some Next placemats)

He is relatively obedient when it comes to walks - although he thinks that every other dog wants to be his friend - and has made quite a few doggy pals on his walks (definitely more friends than I have made since living in Sheffield!)

During these hot days he has had to be carried home more than once because he doesn't realise how knackered he is until he gets dragged off the field!

The howling which commences as soon as we leave the house has now shortened from 2 hours to around 20 minutes and this morning we didn't hear a peep!

So, smiley faces all around! 

Archie's New Pac'a'Mac

As you may of noticed if you live in the UK, it's been a tad wet and windy this week. 

Like most dogs that are used to home comforts, Archie isn't a massive fan of crappy weather - he doesn't like wind, he doesn't like rain and he definitely doesn't like being cold.

This obviously posed a massive palarva this week when it came to walkies time. He would stop and shake constantly whilst walking and even refuse to leave the house which resulted in accidents during the day!

SO, to combat these issues I purchased a doggy Pac'a'Mac from eBay. It was a bargain at £2 and surprisingly enough, he loves it!! Literally velcro it around his neck and tummy and your good to go!

We did have a slight issue when the hood got stuck on a tree when he was rooting in the field but other than that we had one happy and dry pooch! (Although he's not overly keen on having the hood up...)

The Day of the Sports Bra Destruction

After a long day at work my first thoughts when walking through the door are "please don't of poo'ed on the carpet!"

This hasn't been a feeling for quite a few months and because of how well behaved and angelic our little man has been, we decided to release him from his prison whilst we are at work.
At first it was all going spectacularly, no accidents, no mess...the perfect hound!

Until today...

After a slightly shaky few days (I believe due to the ridiculously wet and windy weather in UK at the minute) we decided to give him the benefit whilst at work. He's always so good, surely today won't be different if we take him out for long enough, right? Wrong.

Walking through the door, I glance over to the rug (the usual spot for code brown accidents) and get ready to lavish Archie with praise when suddenly, I walk onto the hallway to find my sports bra (my £40 sports bra for ridiculously hefty boobs).

My unsuspecting sports bra had been detached from the bed post in which it hangs and savagely torn apart. Strap by strap.

And just to top it off, the mischievous bugger decided to have a wee in the hall way.

Welcoming Archie Newstead

                                   

On Friday 13th February, we drove 40 odd miles to collect a little ball of fluff.

After a very scary first trip in a car, followed by a blow to the head by a car bumper and an emergency trip to the vets Archie was home. Slightly concussed and sore but home.

The  following day - after spending a sleepless night on a blow up bed in the living room checking for signs of internal bleeding - Archie was signed off by the vets and bar the hefty vet bill was ready to rock and roll.

We then waddled off to PetsatHome to stock up on treats, bedding and toys (the bed of which was shortly ripped to shreds)

So here it begins, a very unexpected adventure of puppyhood.