The Top Five Dog-Friendly Pubs in Yorkshire!
Back in May in the midst of lockdown, the Benchmark Kennels team asked you to get involved and tell us your favourite dog-friendly pubs around Yorkshire. It was a wonderful opportunity for dog-lovers and owners alike to honour our favourite dog-friendly pubs and help spread the word about these welcoming and cosy places to grab a pint.
First of all, thank you! Our readers didn’t disappoint, with more than 300 of you placing your votes and telling us why your locals are so special to both you and your animals – we absolutely loved hearing from you.
With Boris deciding to lift some lockdown restrictions on 4th July and many pubs now reopening, its the perfect time to see who our winners are and give credit to the top five and much-loved pubs of Yorkshire.
Drum roll, please…
1. The Crown & Cushion, Welburn
The Crown & Cushion in Welburn, North Yorkshire really do take the crown on this one. They received the majority of votes from dog owners and locals due to their gorgeous setting and friendly approach to dogs joining their families for food or drinks.
With the building dating back to the 18th Century, its a stunning environment offering locals a place to pop in for a casual drink after a long walk or get dressed up and visit for a fine dining experience.
In winter, the open fires make the pub a cosy and welcoming place to spend a Sunday, and in summer, the rear terrace is ideal for drinks in the sun.
Welburn village is located in the district of Rydale, not far from Malton and York. It’s easy to access from the A64 or can be found via foot with there being many popular walks and bird-watching spots around the area that can start or finish at the Crown & Cushion.
2. The Wheatsheaf Inn, Carperby
Next up is The Wheatsheaf Inn in Wensleydale, set in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park and hugely popular with avid walkers and explorers. There is an abundance of Yorkshire attractions around the area making it the perfect place for a pint at the end of a long day either spent hiking in the dales with your furry friends or simply mooching around the quaint village shops.
If you’re planning a big walk with the dog and need a place to rest your head afterwards, you can even book a room with your pooch, with many of their single, double and family rooms being completely pet-friendly and offering a home-from-home experience.
3. The Fountain Hotel, Hawes
Another North Yorkshire pub comes in at third – The Fountain Hotel in Hawes. This hotel and local prides itself on its wholesome and home-cooked pub grub, welcoming all dogs and children with open arms.
Popular with sports fans, the pub hosts three screens showing live sport, ideal for watching premiere football which has recently made its post-corona comeback.
The pub is a favourite of both locals and visitors to the town, with many calling in for a drink or staying the night after a walk around the lovely village of Wensleydale and the Yorkshire Dales.
4. The Oak Tree, Helperby
In at fourth is The Oak Tree in Helperby, a village full of character and within reach of a range of lovely walks along rivers Ule and Swale or along the old railway line. You can book a room with your dog or simply visit for a few drinks after a nice stroll, with a huge array of local beers, hand-pulled ales and delicious wines to choose from.
For those looking for a venue for a special occasion, you can even hire out a private party room to host birthdays, cocktail parties or any family gathering and bring your dogs along.
5. Rose & Crown, Sutton-on-the-Forest
Last but by no means least is the Rose & Crown. Located in the picturesque village of Sutton-on-the-Forest in North Yorkshire, this pub is the heart of the village community, being the last standing pub in the village and offering a mean Sunday lunch.
Known to serve some of the best pub food in York, they offer curry nights, steak nights and fresh fish Friday’s – all of which welcome dogs and families to join in. If you’re looking for an affordable place to stop off for a pint and a bite to eat after a long day out around York with it being just eight miles out of the city centre.
If you can’t see your favourite on the list, don’t be disheartened, it was a close call! There were tons of runners up that are equally as beautiful places to call in for a drink with your dog or family, like the Trafalgar Bay in York and The Coverbridge Inn in East Witton.
Get in touch with us on social media to let us know if your favourite dog-friendly pub made the top five and whether you’re planning to brave the pubs post-lockdown or stick to drinks at home for now.
- Published in Blog
A Simple Guide To Puppy Toilet Training
They’re tiny, furry, hyper and sleepy all in equal measure, so introducing your puppy to their forever home can be an exciting time chock full of adventures, discoveries and cute (extremely instagrammable) moments. What could go wrong?
Well actually, a surprising amount of mishaps throughout the toilet training process. Many inexperienced pet owners think that because puppies are so tiny they are easier to care for and create less mess than a fully grown dog. But just like little humans, puppies can have a range of needs as they’re learning and figuring out how to exist in a big, scary and confusing world. Think of them as, quite literally, your fur baby.
Commencing toilet training as quickly as possible is essential if you want to avoid sleepily coming downstairs and stepping into puddles just when you’re about to make your morning coffee. Training is relatively simple once a routine is introduced, but it can be difficult to know where to start if you’ve never trained or handled a puppy before. To help, Benchmark Kennels have put together a simple guide packed with hints and tips to toilet train a puppy successfully.
Set a puppy toilet training routine
A regular routine is a key factor when it comes to toilet training, this allows your puppy to associate certain times of the day and locations with going to the toilet. You should also consider incorporating gentle commands, food treats and scent markers such as a soiled kennel or crate lining made of paper or fabric. The following are the major steps you and your puppers’ should include in your daily routine.
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Morning toilet
As soon as you both wake up your puppy should be taken outside for morning toilet time, try not to pick them up as they need to learn to walk to the garden or yard themselves. You might choose to place their soiled puppy pad, blanket or newspapers from their crate on the ground to attract them to a specific area, so they can get a clearer understanding that it’s time to go to the toilet.
It is helpful to introduce a gentle command such as ‘quickly’ or ‘toilet’ for them to associate with this time, location, and smell. During the early days of toilet training, puppies kept on a lead when you’re encouraging them to go to the toilet are less likely to roam and explore, once they’re old enough to understand what they should do, you can leave the lead indoors.
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Throughout the day
A puppy needs to go to the toilet roughly once every two hours because their bladders are so small, but some owners prefer to aim for every half hour. Whichever time frame seems to work best for your puppy, take them outside into the garden or yard and repeat their morning routine, rewarding them with a treat when they get it right.
Mistakes are totally normal, and although they can be frustrating, do not punish your puppy for getting toilet time wrong. Keep an eye of them throughout the day for signs they might need the toilet, especially if they failed to go the last time you took them outside. Once you notice the signs like sniffing, whining and walking in circles, take them back outdoors.
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After meals
Puppies feel the need to go outside to the toilet relatively soon after each meal. This can fall between five minutes to half an hour after they’ve eaten and had a drink, so keep a keen eye on them post-breakfast, lunch and tea. The older the puppy, the longer the gap between mealtimes and toilet times becomes, generally adult dogs can wait longer because of their increased bladder capacity.
Night-time toilet training
During the night your puppy is left alone without any supervision unless they are kept in your sleeping area. Though some might experience separation anxiety, a puppy which has been given ample opportunity to become familiar with their surroundings will not become as distressed and is more able to settle down for the night. However, it’s important not to have unreal expectations for the outcome of their bedtime routine. Accidents are bound to happen, especially in the early days.
It’s advisable to keep your puppy secured in their crate or kennel overnight so they cannot wander through rooms and have accidents on hard and soft furnishings. Put down a toilet pad or a few layers of newspaper on the floor of their crate to soak up toilet mess which can be removed easily with minimal fuss in the morning before they head out into the garden for their morning toilet.
If (by some Mission Impossible methods) your puppy manages to escape their crate or kennel and leaves a trail of accidents in their wake, it’s best to clean it up using absorbent tea towels, warm water and washing powder with a nail brush for scrubbing. Alternately, a non-toxic antibacterial liquid or a wash recommended by your vet can be used to sanitise the area of the accident and leave a scent that prevents your puppy from wanting to soil that area repeatedly.
Learn from accidents
Do not chastise your puppy when they do have an accident, it is physiologically unavoidable when they are progressing through their formative months. At worst being shamed will terrify and scare them, leading to a disconnect in your companionship and them trusting you less than they should. Do not shove their noses in their accidents or shout at them, as they will not understand, instead, try to gently encourage and reward them for the things they do get right.
Stay calm, sanitise the area of the accident thoroughly and use the experience as a valuable learning curve that you’ll need to be more vigilant, attentive and careful regarding your pup’s toilet habits over the coming months. If your puppy is halfway through going to the toilet when you catch them having an accident, quickly pick them up and take them into the garden. They may be able to finish going to the toilet in the correct location.
Whatever accidents happen, it helps to know that it’s not forever, soon enough they will be adult dogs able to take care of their own toilet needs at home and on walks.
Need a bespoke kennel for your puppy to feel comfortable in?
Benchmark Kennels are a manufacturer of bespoke dog kennels, giving dog owners of all breed types, sizes and temperaments a secure and spacious place to stay outdoors. Every kennel is custom-made, meaning you can choose the exact size, material, properties and architecture of the kennel itself to ensure it suits your dog and the outside of your property.
You can order a wooden or WPC eco-thermal dog kennel directly from our website today or contact us via phone to find out more about our excellent range of kennels.
- Published in Blog
What To Expect When Rescuing A Dog
Rescuing a dog can be a time of upheaval, excitement and discovery for both newbie and experienced pet owners because each dog is different, with its own personality and quirks to get used to. Your new companion equally has to adjust to you, your family, home and way of life, which can be a slow process or go rather quickly, depending on the temperament of the dog. For those with no previous background with rescues, here is Benchmark Kennel’s guide on what to expect when you’re expecting (a new fur baby).
Finding A Dog
There are many ways to adopt a dog so it’s best to cast a wide net so you can find the dog who truly fits your family and vice versa. Local rehoming centres may be featured in more traditional modes of advertising like leaflets, local papers, classifieds and directories, as well as having a website to browse.
Larger adoption services almost always have dedicated websites featuring pet databases where you can easily search for specific types of pets in your region and area. You’ll be able to view details like their temperament, their likes and dislikes, ideal environment and individual care needs on their pet profiles.
If you live close enough a rehoming centre, it’s just as easy to drop in branch and visit the dogs currently waiting to be rehomed. It’s important to be aware that some dogs may be reserved for other visitors and prospective adopters, so guard your heart before you fall in love with any specific pooch.
Filling In The Paperwork
Once you’ve found the dog you’d like to rehome you will usually be required to give the centre a ring (or let them know during your visit) and express your interest to meet the dog. You’ll need to fill in an application form downloaded online or pick one up in-person. If you haven’t popped into the rehoming centre previously or live too far away to do so, simply bring the filled documents with you on the day of your visit. The staff at the chosen centre will assess your application with you and give you more information regarding the individual needs of the dog in question and whether you, your family, and they are a good forever home fit.
If your application is approved, you will be allowed to meet your potential pooch and get to know their demeanour a little better. Its recommended that each member of the family is present to make the dog’s acquaintance before choosing to move forward with the adoption process.
A Forever Home
When it’s deemed that your household is a great match for your new companion, most reputable adoption centres will commit to a home visit in which a colleague will drop by your home to ascertain that your space is suitable for the dog you want to adopt. You can pick up some great advice at this stage, so don’t rush through the meeting. It’s advisable to take notes, be open to ideas and be super aware of how the transition from kennels to a normal home can be made smoother and less stressful for the dog with little tweaks, such as bringing a favourite toy with them, or a loved blanket which has their scent all over it.
These simple measures will make them feel more secure in strange surroundings because just like us humans, unfamiliar situations can be extremely distressing without comfort and reassurance from those who love us.
Establishing a supportive forever home is key to the first few weeks of adoption, but don’t be afraid of information overload as most adoption centres will provide you with a handbook break down of help and advice which you can use post-rehoming.
Adjustment Period
After successfully crossing all the T’s and dotting I’s during your application (including a possible single time adoption fee), your new dog will be officially given over to your care. When you take them home most dog’s will have received all their jabs, anti-parasite treatments, microchipping, spaying or neutering. If you’re not sure whether they have been given a medical once over, you may want to take them on a quick trip to see the vet in order to ensure they’re getting the healthiest start at the beginning of their next chapter with you.
Before rushing out into the world though, we advise you to slowly introduce your dog to your home by allowing them free reign of one or two rooms, depending on how timid they are. This smaller territory makes them feel more in control of their environment, think of it as their own little safety den! For an extra level of security for your dog, investing in a dog kennel, crate or cage whose door you can leave open is a fantastic option, as this is where their favourite blanket can be draped or toy placed inside so their scent is present from the word go.
Trust is the most vital factor when your dog is exploring new rooms, a dog who trusts their owner often makes greater progress through the bumpy adjustment period than dogs who are being rushed, stressed or feel their pack leader does not have their best interests at heart.
Like any of us when we’re frazzled, they might just need quality time to feel relaxed in the presence of your household. You can tempt them to be more adventurous by introducing a treat and rewards system, each milestone and achievement should earn them a toy, an enrichment activity or a small dog treat.
Training
The training process for a new dog should ideally take place as soon as they enter your property, set the tone for what kinds of behaviour are welcome and those that are not permitted. The following are some key areas of dog training for you to keep in mind:
- Relationship Building: Do not think of training as a chore or an activity which must be strict and utterly devoid of fun, the goal is to build a meaningful companionship between you (the leader of your pack) and your dog (a member of your pack).
- Toilet Training: This may take longer than you expect until a regular toilet routine is put in place, you may also notice that your dog wants to go to the toilet much more often, this is normal.
- Monitor Walks: Not every dog wants to walk for miles and miles, for some, a short local walk might do the trick. It’s your responsibility to respond to their needs and learn their preferred distances, frequency of walks and usual walk intensity. You’ll learn their patterns over time.
- Lead Discipline: Your dog being able to respond to your call (and their name) when given the freedom to roam off the lead is essential as it can avoid dangerous hazards for them and for others. Train your dog to walk on a lead at home in your garden or yard using rewards, until they learn to respond to your voice promptly, calmly and without fuss. Do not let them off the lead until they are fully able to recognise commands.
Need a bespoke kennel for your new rescue dog?
Benchmark Kennels are a manufacturer of bespoke dog kennels, giving dog owners of all breed types, sizes and temperaments a secure and spacious place to stay outdoors. Every kennel is custom-made, meaning you can choose the exact size, material, properties and architecture of the kennel itself to ensure it suits your dog and the outside of your property.
You can order a wooden or WPC eco-thermal dog kennel directly from our website today or contact us via phone to find out more about our excellent range of kennels.
- Published in Blog
Lockdown Tips: How To Avoid Dog Separation Anxiety
Lockdown, while being a scary and unusual time for many, has allowed both new and experienced dog owners to spend lots of quality time with their pets, strengthening bonds and giving owners plenty of time to practise some perhaps neglected training. It’s been wonderful for our dogs to have us around, whether you are working from home and they are happy to sit by your side until their walkies or you’re on furlough and have been able to give them your undivided attention.
Despite this, it’s important to keep in mind that the period of lockdown is gradually coming to an end and as people start to return to work our dogs are likely to feel confused and abandoned after such a long period of being around their humans 24/7. If you have welcomed a new puppy into your home or you have a dog that struggled with being separated before lockdown began, now is the time to start easing your dog into normal life and make sure you don’t go from one extreme to another.
Benchmark Kennels are here to clear up any confusion you have around trying to avoid separation anxiety and offer some clever ways to accustom your dog to spending time alone without having to necessarily leave your home entirely.
What is separation anxiety?
Before you start trying to combat and avoid separation anxiety, you need a basic understanding of what it is and what it can entail if you allow it to escalate. Dogs in the wild are pack animals meaning it is in their nature to enjoy spending time as part of a group rather than alone. This natural instinct is still there, meaning domesticated dogs can develop separation anxiety as a result of spending too much time in the company of their owners and believing that every time you leave the room you are essentially leaving forever. By introducing periods of prolonged separation and encouraging your dog to have some independence as a puppy and an adult, you will make life a lot easier when it comes to going to work or heading out to a place where dogs aren’t allowed.
How your dog reacts to being left alone will be dependent on their breed and upbringing, but it is also largely a result of how they are raised and their early experiences. While it may be tempting to spend every waking minute with a new puppy having plenty of cuddles and playtime, this will only lead to issues further down the line. For dogs that haven’t been left alone or trained to spend time without you being closeby, separation anxiety and your dog’s distress can be displayed in a number of ways such as barking, crying or whining, chewing or general destructiveness and going to the toilet indoors – all behaviours that can be hard to deal with and can even harm the relationship between you are your animal.
How to avoid separation anxiety after post-lockdown…
Develop independence
If you have a new lockdown puppy or your dog has become your little shadow during the lockdown period, now is the time to start introducing periods of alone time and encourage independence. You don’t have to go out of the house to do this either, simply leaving your dog in another room or outdoors to play and explore without you being closeby is enough. Try to extend the amounts of time you separate yourself from your dog with the end goal being your dog staying calm and relaxed whether you’re in the room or not. Make sure to leave plenty of chew toys such as Kong toys stuffed with treats or peanut butter and a comfy bed or crate for your dog to rest and feel safe while you’re gone.
Some other ways to encourage independence is to make sure your dog sleeps in their bed rather than next to wherever you are in the home and try to stick to a consistent routine, including a ‘quiet time’ for your dog to sleep without you there.
Dog kennels
Another way to avoid causing dog separation anxiety is by using indoor or outdoor dog kennels. Kennels are a perfect way to give your dog alone time outdoors without you having to keep an eye on them, leaving you an opportunity to tick off any jobs around the house or run any errands. By putting your dog in their kennel regularly, it will become a part of their daily life and your dog will start to view their kennel as their own territory to play or relax without needing attention from you.
Shared care
While all dogs will have a favourite person, usually being whoever brings them home for the first time or who feeds them, discouraging your dog from becoming too attached to one family member can help to ease separation anxiety. To do this, make sure all members of your household get involved with the daily care, feeding, walking and playtime with your dog. This way, when their favourite carer is at work or in a separate room your dog won’t display signs of anxiety or problem behaviours.
This is an especially important thing to keep in mind if you plan to use dog sitting or dog walking services after lockdown, as your dog will be difficult to manage if they are only familiar with being around one person.
Regular exercise
This may go without saying, but taking your dog for a big walk at least once a day is essential for their physical and mental wellbeing. A dog that has excess energy to burn is far more likely to freak out, chew your furniture or bark when left alone than a dog that has had plenty of exercises before you head out. As the lockdown rules have started to be lifted, try to get back into a strict routine of taking your dog for a big walk before you go to work so they can sleep it off for a big chunk of the day until you return.
Positive techniques
Finally, it’s important to remember that once a dog has developed separation anxiety, it is difficult to get rid of. You should never punish your dog for the behaviour they display while you’re out as your animal won’t understand why or what they are being punished for. Instead, don’t pay your dog any attention when you get home to avoid making a big deal out of the fact you’re together again. Over time, your dog should start to learn that being apart isn’t something to be distressed about.
Order a bespoke wooden dog kennel for post-lockdown today!
If you’re planning to go back to work soon or you just want to reintroduce a routine to help to avoid or ease your dog’s separation anxiety, an outdoor wooden or WPC eco-thermal dog kennel is an ideal solution. They are secure, insulated and are bespoke-made to suit the size and breed of your dog, whether you require multi kennels or singular dog kennels to house your animals and keep them out of harm’s way.
Order your bespoke kennel via our website today or give us a call for a quote!
- Published in Blog
Lockdown Tips: Keeping Your Dog Fit At Home
Continuing our series of essential lockdown tips to keep your dog happy, healthy and engaged throughout the boredom of national lockdown, we’re focusing on the most simple and effective ways to keep your dog healthy and fit while largely stuck at home.
Depending on your pets’ usual activity levels, the activities you try might vary in length and intensity, they may be motivated by simply the promise of walkies with their human or need to be encouraged using small treats or a favourite toy, ball or game. There are no hard and fast rules when keeping your dog at peak physical fitness, because all canines are different, with their personalities and individual motivations. The most important consideration is to enjoy the quality time you and your dog spend together during quarantine, whether you choose long walks, training, play, enrichment activities or diet changes.
With that spirit in mind, Benchmark Kennel’s have put together a mini-guide to maintain your dog’s fitness with a bunch of helpful tips and handy advice so you can get active together at home while prioritising the safety and wellbeing of yourself, your family and your pet.
Long Walks
It’s a well-known fact of life that most dogs love the many hours spent walking with their humans in parks, along streets, in cities and deep in the countryside. In normal times there are almost no end of places you and your dog can venture, where they can run, chase, play and burn off all that extra energy which has them bouncing off the walls if gone unspent.
Although it’s not advisable to go wandering miles from home or driving to another county altogether and widening the margin for error in terms of staying alert, there are sure to be many routes in your local area to explore safely.
Going off the beaten track to the parkland of heritage sites is a great way to soak in some culture outdoors and give your dog lots of space to run, play and enjoy some much-needed freedom. These areas often possess large trees for quality stick hunting, lots of undergrowth for natural sniffing, and active wildlife to trigger your pets’ hunting instincts without allowing them to chase or hurt any small animals. On top of this, your dog may have the opportunity to greet and interact with other canines (provided your respective households don’t get too close) which they are sure to have missed during the quarantine.
That said, if you wish to skip the crowds, the best time to grab the lead and get running to your local green space is after 5 pm, ensuring a quieter environment so you and your dog can minimise contact with others.
Training
As previously mentioned in our lockdown series, being stuck at home provides you with the perfect opportunity to focus back on training basics. It’s never too late to revisit the simple things you might have been overlooking or correct bad behaviours you might not have had the time to deal with before the pandemic – with the added benefit of burning calories, improving concentration, and helping them stay active.
One of the best ways to get started, whether your dog is elderly, a pup or any age in between. Though just like humans, older dogs are known to have a superior attention span when compared with very young puppies, is to teach or reaffirm the seven most important commands: no, leave, sit, stay, come, and down. These can be exceptionally useful in almost any scenario you can imagine in which your dog is physically active, both indoors or out.
Finding the right training techniques for these commands is largely trial and error, and should be tailored to your dog, based on how fast and efficiently they learn, how well they remember commands and, if they have been trained before, their motivations.
All training or teaching of tricks should be carried out using small treats or their favourite toys as encouragement, using hand motions as a signal for your dog to position themselves in a certain way or follow you in a particular direction. You may also want to use sound, clicks, claps and whistles to communicate with them, depending on the rapport you share and what your pet responds most positively to.
It’s advisable to begin training in a quiet area so neither you or your dog become distracted, such as your garden during the morning or early evening.
Playtime
Although it might seem obvious that playtime makes for a great opportunity for your dog to keep fit while having fun, it’s an activity that many pet owners find all too easy to overlook or trivialise. Dogs get bored just like humans, so the rich engagement potential that play provides can alleviate their stress and activate essential brain functions while getting them running, chasing, fighting their toys and living their best canine lives.
Make sure you have their best toys on hand, it’s one thing to watch your dog play alone or with their companion dog (or dogs), but interacting and joining the play yourself adds a new layer of joy for your pet who sees you as the leader of their little pack.
A range of toys will do, for example: chasing a ball allows them to use concentration, understand spatial awareness and increase their speed, building lean muscle mass and burning fat. Tug of war improves their strength and lets them tap into their primal resource instincts. Flirt poles have your dogs bounding, jumping, spinning and chasing; increasing their heart rate, endurance and agility.
However you choose to make playtime a 3D, active and pack-building experience, it’s important to note that wherever you lead, your dog will follow. Your attitude, expressions and energy really will define how exciting, fulfilling and engaging play activities are for you and your dog.
Enrichment
A more relaxed facet of playtime that is often forgotten is enrichment. The definition of enrichment is to decrease boredom and behavioural problems through the constructive use of interesting objects, smells, sounds, flavours or games so that even when your dog is relaxed, they remain active, engaged and fit.
There are many ways to enrich your dogs’ experience of lockdown, the most physically powerful are assault courses, promoting agility and speed. They can be made easily using children’s crawl tubes, slides, and even bamboo sticks staked into the lawn. Another solution is Kongs (a chunky and hard-wearing toy that is perfect for garden play) which can be stuffed with treats and frozen, making them ideal for hot weather as we head into Summer. If you’re feeling particularly creative, allowing your dog an area of your garden, sandpit or scrubby area to dig is an inventive option – we apologise in advance for the thorough bathing they’ll need afterwards though.
Whatever method you choose, you can guarantee your dog will have used their reserves of excess energy through physical and mental stimulation, tiring them out and helping them settle better during those long lockdown evenings.
Diet
The single most effective way to help your dog stay fit during lockdown is to provide them with a healthy diet, promoting their wellbeing and shedding unnecessary fat and additives.
Removing man-made ingredients from their bowl and replacing indulgent and often fat-filled red meat-based wet food with lean, cooked white meat like chicken and turkey with the bones and skin completely removed. Fish can also be included in your dogs’ new diet, such as tuna, sardines and salmon, as can leafy greens, eggs, whole grains and vegetables, bringing a nutritional balance to their feeding times.
Instead of sweet treats, exchange this habit for a tiny square of juicy fruit like melon, apple, banana, pear, etc. Take care to keep portions small, as large amounts of sugar and fruit can cause stomach upset and diarrhoea.
Need a bespoke kennel large enough for other lockdown dog activities?
Benchmark Kennels are a manufacturer of bespoke dog kennels, giving dog owners of all breed types, sizes and temperaments a secure and spacious place to stay outdoors. Every kennel is custom-made, meaning you can choose the exact size, material, properties and architecture of the kennel itself to ensure it suits your dog and the outside of your property.
You can order a wooden or WPC eco-thermal dog kennel directly from our website today or contact us via phone to find out more about our excellent range of kennels.
- Published in Blog
Lockdown Tips: Training A Dog To Walk On A Lead
Lockdown is continuing to pose some restrictions on everyday life and, with us cooped up at home for most of the time, your dog may be going a little stir crazy with excess energy. A dog that is not mentally or physically stimulated can start to display boisterous and problematic behaviour, so what better time to go back to basics and train your pooch to walk on a lead, rather than allowing them to tear about your home.
Many people think that dogs know innately know how to walk on a leash, but this skill is one which needs to be learned through consistent training and practice. Dedicating some time each day to practising on the lead means that next time you go for your daily walk, you’ll both be calm enough to value every moment. This skill is especially important if you have a very young or large breed of dog who may end up dragging you down the street without the correct training.
Here are some expert tips from Benchmark Kennels for training your dog to walk safely and calmly on a lead without tugging. Once you have used the right positive training techniques and mastered training a dog to walk to heel, your daily dog walks will be far more enjoyable and stress-free for both you and your furry companion.
Introduce your dog to the collar and lead
Begin by allowing your dog to get used to wearing its collar around the home. If you have had your puppy for a few weeks and are getting ready to take them outdoors for the first time, start putting on their collar for them to wear around the house. The feeling of a collar will be unfamiliar to your dog at first, but after a while, they will hardly notice they are wearing one at all. Your dog can wear its collar for short periods of time inside the house while you are playing, giving them treats and making them feel comfortable. It’s best to start off with lightweight and flexible collars so your dog does not feel restricted or uncomfortable and make sure the collar is not too tight.
Once your dog is not fazed by the collar, you can bring the lead into the picture. Have plenty of treats to hand and practise walking around your home and garden slowly with your dog. Make sure not to pull your dog around with the lead and instead let them walk and move at their own pace, keeping the lead loose so your dog is less aware that they are being restricted.
Training a dog to walk to heel
When your dog is fine wearing a collar and lead and moving around your home with you, you can try to tackle the walking technique. While it takes time for a puppy or untrained dog to heel on a lead, if you can get it right, your life on walks will be so much easier. Make sure you use treats, so your dog has a positive association with walking to heel and practise walking a few steps at a time before standing still and asking your dog to sit. This way, your dog will associate treats with walking by your side and sitting when you stop.
As soon as your dog turns and looks at you reward him with a little treat. After a few tries, you will notice your dog is not only focusing on you but is also coming over to you for the promise of a treat.
Introduce your dog to a distinctive cue sound that signifies food is coming. Some owners like to click and treat, some use an affirmative word like yes and others click with their tongue. Whichever method you choose to use is essentially the same, in a mostly quiet area free of sounds and loud background noise, with your dog on a leash, make the signature sound.
If your dog pulls ahead, do not pull them back or use force to stop them, simply stand still and wait till they stop pulling, then reward them with a treat and go again. Over time, your dog will realise that pulling doesn’t get them where they want to go any quicker and your walks will become far more enjoyable.
Venture outside
You are now ready to test your dog’s skills outside of your usual quiet space at home. There will be many challenges, smells, sounds, and sights to cause distraction, whether you are training a new puppy or an older dog that will test your dog’s newfound walking skills. It is important to be patient with your dog and keep the walks short for a while. If your dog starts to pull ahead on walks out of excitement, be consistent with your at-home training and stop walking, then reward your dog with a treat when they
Always keep your eyes on them, so if your dog looks likely to lunge at something, get suddenly distracted, or start pulling on the lead you can immediately move away or stop walking. If your dog follows suit, always reward them with a treat.
It can be difficult to be 100% consistent when out and about and training a dog to walk on a lead properly, so dedicating certain walks to be complete training sessions can be more effective. On these walks, make sure you are strict and firm with your dog, taking plenty of treats for rewarding your dog when it walks by your heel. On days where you are limited for time, use a different lead, and let your dog off to run around so they can get plenty of exercise without letting any of their lead skills slip away.
Need an outdoor kennel for your dog to spend time?
While dog walking training can be lifechanging for both dog owners and their animals, Benchmark Kennels are manufacturers of bespoke dog kennels, providing dog owners of all breed types, sizes, and temperaments with a secure and spacious place for dogs to kept outdoors. With each kennel being custom-made, you can choose the specific size, material, properties, and structure of your kennel to ensure that it suits your dog and property.
You can order a wooden or WPC eco-thermal dog kennel directly via our website today or enquire over the phone to hear more about our highly respected range of kennels.
- Published in Blog
Lockdown Tips: Fun Dog Activities To Tire Them Out At Home
The current lockdown situation can be a confusing time for pets, particularly dogs that are used to spending a large portion of the day alone, that now find themselves getting to spend time with their owners all day long. While it’s great that we have this newfound time to strengthen the relationships with our pets, it can be difficult for your dog to understand that it can’t have your undivided attention all the time.
It’s important to stick to a daily routine and make it clear to your dog when its time to play and when its time for them to occupy themselves or relax. One way to do this is to have set times of the day where you dedicate a significant amount of time to play with your dog. Listen to your dog’s needs and understand when they seem to have the most energy or when they seem to want to sleep, to create a routine that works for both parties. Playtime should be a set hour or even less where you do activities with your dog, giving them your full attention and affection to burn off energy, so you can also have plenty of time to yourself.
Although it’s definitely a tricky time to tire your dog out physically with us only being allowed one hour of exercise per day, there are plenty of ways to mentally stimulate their dog to avoid any problematic behaviours cropping up as a result of boredom. Benchmark Kennels are highly experienced in keeping large or working dogs active and stimulated, whether you have time to dedicate to play with your dog or you need an activity that can occupy your dog while they spend time in an outdoor kennel. Keep reading for some fun dog activities to try during the lockdown period…
Fun activities for your dog…
New tricks
Now is the perfect time to teach your dog some new tricks or commands – something that we’re all guilty of not having enough time for in everyday life. If there are any basic commands that your dog hasn’t yet learned like sit, lie down, stay or recall that you need to work on, tick these off first. However if your dog is ready to move onto more advanced movements, why not be ambitious and try tricks like bark, rollover, figure eight and more.
What’s great about teaching a dog new tricks is the time it takes time to get right, with time being something that many of us have an abundance of in the current situation. Dedicate small amounts of time each day to working on the new tricks until eventually, your dog knows exactly what to do, either after a particular hand movement or after you say the command.
Dog training activities are great ways to keep your dogs mind active and functioning healthily, which can leave them tired out and more relaxed for the rest of the day, rather than having them run riot around your home due to a lack of stimulation. Not only does teaching your dog a variety of different commands and tricks benefit dog owners by leaving them with a dog that is far easier to manage, but dogs love learning too and will become far closer to their owners throughout the training process.
Treat hunts
If you have children, you will be familiar with setting up egg hunts or other types of treasure hunts to keep your kids occupied – this works for dogs too. Why not hide small amounts of tasty dry food or treats around your home for your dog to spend time sniffing out? It’s a surefire way to keep your dog busy and guaranteed, they won’t give up until they’ve found all of them.
If your dog is on a diet or you don’t want to place dog treats around your home, you can even hide instead. Get all the household involved and play hide and seek with your dog by hiding in different places around the home and calling your dog one-by-one. Not only will this be incredibly exciting for your animal, but it will help to improve their recall and spatial awareness skills too.
Obstacle courses
If you’re one of those people who has been buying an excessive amount of toilet roll, or you are making a lot more online purchases than usual, you will likely have plenty of cardboard recycling lying around. Empty cardboard boxes that have been hollowed out are great for creating obstacles for your dogs to crawl through, jump over or jump up onto to practise their agility, keep their muscles moving and improve mobility.
Chewing
Finally, to help avoid one of the most common problem behaviours shown by dogs, chewing, try to factor this into your dog activities. There is a huge range of chew toys available online such as the well-known Kong toys, which allow dogs to exercise their mind, keep their teeth healthy and stay occupied for long amounts of time.
If you aren’t able to get your hands on a chew toy during the lockdown period, putting your dogs’ favourite treats in some water and popping them in the freezer will leave you with some frozen treats for your dog to spend time chewing on. Or, you can create tugs of war using pieces of old rope to improve your dogs’ teeth and muscle strength!
For those dog owners that have an outdoor space such as a garden or a dog kennel for their dog to spend time, complex and challenging chew toys using treats are a great way to absorb your dog in an activity for long periods of time without you having to give them your full attention. If your dog is a large breed or a working dog and spends their time in a wooden or WPC kennel outdoors, Kong toys and hiding treats can keep your dog’s mind busy and stimulated during lockdown while you focus on working from home.
Need an outdoor kennel large enough for fun dog activities?
Benchmark Kennels are manufacturers of bespoke dog kennels, providing dog owners of all breed types, sizes and temperaments with a secure and spacious place for dogs to kept outdoors. With each kennel being custom-made, you can choose the specific size, material, properties and structure of your kennel to ensure that it suits your dog and property.
You can order a wooden or WPC eco-thermal dog kennel directly via our website today or enquire over the phone to hear more about our highly respected range of kennels.
- Published in Blog
Vote for the Best Dog Friendly Pub in Yorkshire
At Benchmark Kennels, we are on a mission to ensure all pets are well-cared for, happy and healthy.
From training and safety, to lockdown tips and dog kennels, we’re here to help our customers and their pets. That’s why we want to round up the best dog-friendly pubs in Yorkshire, so that when they reopen, you can take your buddy with you.
It’s no secret that our pets are enjoying the 24/7 company at the moment, but they aren’t prepared for that to suddenly change. We want to help ease your pets back into ‘normal’ life, so vote for your favourite dog friendly pub in Yorkshire so other families know where to go with their pups.
If you can’t see your favourite on the list, tick ‘other’ at the end of the survey and add your favourite.
We will release the top 10 when lockdown restrictions are lifted and we’re able to visit these pubs safely.
*Update* Please note when leaving comments:
Please include the full name and location of the pub you are commenting on. If you wish to add a pub to the list, please use the last checkbox ‘other’ to add your suggestion and we will update our survey. Recommendations in the comment section of this post will not be counted, only those in the ‘other’ checkbox will be counted.
- Published in Blog
Lockdown Tips: How To Follow A Puppy Socialisation Plan
Puppy socialisation is key to a dog’s early development, with experiences in the first few months of a puppy’s life playing a huge role in their eventual personality and behaviour patterns as an adult dog. If you’ve recently welcomed a puppy into your home or you have plans to do so during the lockdown period, you may be worried about how you can stick to a puppy socialisation plan while we’re all stuck at home. Benchmark Kennels are here to share some easy and effective ways to socialise your dog from the comfort of your own home or garden – be prepared to get creative!
A puppy socialisation plan:
Despite what you may have heard, puppy socialisation is all about the quality of a dog’s early interactions, not quantity. Instead of exposing your dog to as many unique situations or experiences as possible, you should focus on these new experiences being carried out in the right way, so your dog can form positive associations and learn the right responses behaviour-wise.
By gradually opening your dog up in a laid-back way to new smells, objects, surfaces, sounds, and more, you can ensure that your dog develops a friendly and calm personality, rather than a nervous or defensive one. ‘Gradually’ is the keyword here, as if you try to force your new puppy into new experiences or situations before they’re ready, you can actually end up doing more harm than good.
When you’re trying to get your puppy used to being handled, for example, simply grabbing them and picking them up without warning can lead to them becoming defensive or afraid of being held. Always let your dog approach a new smell, object or person in their own time and have plenty of treats to hand for some positive reinforcement. Along the same lines, if your dog is clearly finding a certain experience overly stressful or distressing, remove them from it, don’t force them to endure it or you can cause long term fear and problem behaviours.
Puppy socialisation in the home…
Handling
One of the main aspects of life to get your puppy accustomed to is being touched and handled by humans. Luckily, this is completely doable in your home by stroking and playing with your dog physically so it becomes familiar and relaxed with the idea of being touched. Not only will this help to build a strong and loving relationship between the two of you, but your dog will learn to associate being physical contact or being held as a positive experience. Familiarising your dog with being stroked in a variety of areas is important for when people can eventually socialise again – you want to be able to relax and know that your dog will be friendly around new people.
If your new puppy is a large or working dog breed and will be spending a lot of its time in your garden or in an outdoor dog kennel, it’s still essential to make sure it is socialised with regularly. This way, you can avoid any aggressive personality traits or problematic behaviours emerging and ensure that your dog is content when being stroked or touched, no matter what size it grows up to be! Benchmark Kennels are proud manufacturers of high-quality wooden and WPC eco-thermal dog kennels, suitable for puppies or adult dogs that are too large to spend all their time indoors, or for homes that simply want an outdoor space for their dog to spend some time.
Sounds
As well as making sure your new addition is happy to be held, there are many smells and sounds in the outside world to expose your puppy to. While our homes are naturally quieter than the outdoors with a lot less for dogs to pick up on in terms of smells and sounds, there are still some easy ways to bring the outdoors in.
Technology is a dog owners best friend in today’s day and age, with there being a wide range of videos and ready-made sounds for puppy socialisation online for you to play around your home or garden and expose your puppy to. Think traffic, fireworks, other dogs barking, children, and more; all sounds that may not naturally occur around your home but that are important for your dog to be exposed to.
As well as the noise of the outdoor world, you can habituate your puppy with common household noises too, such as the washing machine, dishwasher, hoover, music, TV, running water and more. These may seem like everyday sounds to us, but for a puppy, they can be frightening. Try to build up the variety of sounds your dog is used to until eventually, they aren’t fussed by them and carry on as normal.
Separation
One aspect of a usual puppy socialisation plan that is going to be particularly difficult during the current lockdown period is separation. If you are to lead a happy life with your furry companion, it is important that your dog is able to spend periods of time on their own, without displaying problem behaviours or becoming anxious. While it may be tempting to spend every minute with your new puppy, this will only cause problems in the long run. With us having no choice but to spend all of our time at home right now, you will need to find new ways to separate yourself from your dog every now and then.
Installing baby gates or closing doors between rooms while your dog is asleep, playing or occupied is one way to keep some distance between you without causing them distress. By making sure to leave plenty of toys and even treats for your dog to play with, you can slowly build up the amount of time your puppy spends alone to prepare your dog for when our routines do go back to normal and we spend more time out the house.
Surfaces
If you have only recently brought your puppy home, the chances are it will have been exposed to very few types of surfaces. Try to tick off a variety of floor surfaces that your dog has walked across by gently tempting them with treats, this way, you won’t end up with a distressed dog when it can eventually venture outside for walkies. Some examples of surfaces to familiarise your dog with are concrete, grass, mud, puddles, wooden floors, carpets, and tiles. While you may not have a wide variety of surfaces around your home, the more surfaces your dog is happy to walk on, the better, for when you can take them on walks outdoors and to other people’s houses.
Routine
Last but not least, when sticking to a puppy socialisation plan in your home, consider your daily routine. In the long term, for your dog to adjust to life with you in the right way, you want your puppy to be adapted to a regular routine in terms of eating, walking, playing and sleeping. This is difficult at the moment with most people’s lockdown routines being varied while working from home, but it’s still advisable to stick to a vague routine in terms of what time you wake up, eat, play, go outdoors and sleep. It may seem like a small issue now, but you will thank yourself in the future to have a dog that vaguely understands what happens at various times of the day, instead of a dog that thinks its playtime 24/7.
Puppy socialisation outdoors…
In the garden
As you can see, there are a number of ways to get creative and socialise your puppy within your home. If you’re lucky enough to have your own enclosed garden too, there is even more opportunity. While puppy vaccinations are currently unavailable, a safe and fenced-off garden is a great place to allow your puppy to explore and play, either by themselves or with any other dogs in your household. It’s still important to keep a close eye on your puppy and other pets so you can step in if playtime becomes too rough or your puppy can’t keep up.
The weather is another aspect of life that your dog won’t have experienced before. Luckily, there’s lots of variation in the weather in the UK so you can take your dog outdoors in the garden to show the rain, sleet, sun, ice and more, so they’re prepared for experiencing these when out on walks.
On walks
If your puppy has been vaccinated fully, you can start to take them on socially distanced walks around your neighbourhood, making sure to keep your puppy a few metres away from other dog owners and animals at all times. Or, even if your dog hasn’t yet had its vaccinations, you can still take them on walks in your arms so they can see the outside world. While your puppy won’t be able to go near other dogs or people, seeing and hearing different types and sizes of animals, people and cars in the outside world will boost their confidence for when social distancing regulations are lifted.
Order a wooden outdoor dog kennel for your puppy today!
Although lockdown presents a challenge for new dog owners, it’s clear to see that puppy socialisation can still be done and dogs can still be kept busy around our homes. If you have a new puppy or you are welcoming one into your home sometime soon, an outdoor dog kennel can provide a safe and large space for your dog to spend time in the outdoors, keeping them out of harm’s way while still exposing them to new sounds and smells.
Get in touch with Benchmark Kennel’s team today or order a custom wooden or WPC eco-thermal dog kennel via our website that suits your needs.
- Published in Blog
Dog Agility Training At Home: Equipment, Tricks & Advice
Dog agility is a recognised dog sport all over the world, with many organisations hosting competitions for owners and dogs of all breeds to showcase their skills and win awards. Despite this, dog agility doesn’t have to be a serious affair that requires you to dedicate hours into training and practise. Dog agility training can simply be a fun activity for you and your pet to enjoy together, with the added benefit that it keeps your dog’s fitness levels up and allows them to burn off plenty of steam.
No matter how seriously you want to take dog agility, you can get stuck into the sport by constructing DIY obstacles for your garden and training yourself and dog over time to become masters of communication. Agility dog training isn’t just about teaching your dog new behaviours but involves learning new skills and developing from a dog owner to a dog handler. It takes time and dedication but the benefits for your dog’s fitness, confidence, anxiety levels and overall wellbeing make it highly rewarding.
The great thing about starting to familiarise your dog with agility obstacles at home is you can take it completely at your own pace and keep it fun, without your dog having to be on its best behaviour. It’s important to keep in mind that some dogs are more naturally gifted at agility than others and not all dogs will enjoy or excel in competitions. Dog agility training at home allows dogs of all breeds, sizes, ages and abilities to have fun without the pressure of an audience.
Dogs love to be active and learn from their masters, both things that agility allows them to do, so what are you waiting for? Grab some old household items and spend some quality time outdoors with your dog. Benchmark Kennels are here to share some of the major benefits of dog agility training with some easy DIY dog training equipment to try.
Is agility training good for dogs?
While dog agility involves dogs following many behavioural commands and might seem like hard work, a dog will never view it as such. Agility gives dogs the opportunity to do what they’re born to do, keeping both their body and mind active and stimulated.
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Reduces anxiety
An active and busy dog is a happy dog, which is why behavioural issues and separation anxiety is seen more in dogs that spend a lot of time lazing around or on their own. By starting an activity that involves both you and your dog being up on your feet and learning new commands, you can tire your pet out mentally and physically.
If you find your dog is still energetic after a long walk this is usually because their mind has not been active – agility ticks all boxes, leading to a healthy and happy dog. Once you’ve started regular dog behaviour training using agility obstacles, you are sure to notice far less negative behaviours in your dog when you do have to leave them in outdoor dog kennels or in your home for periods of time.
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Trust and communication
As well as improving the overall behaviour of your dog, dog agility training also hugely strengthens the bond between an owner and their dog. Your dog will learn to trust you completely as both your communication skills develop. Agility training essentially involves the two of you learning a mutual language to communicate with each other, consisting of body language and verbal commands. As your dog learns to understand your every move, your relationship can only get stronger, benefitting you in a range of other situations where you need your animal to behave and stay by your side.
What age should you start agility training?
It’s important not to start using agility obstacles or courses until your vet has approved this. A young dog below one or two years can severely damage their bones if they try to jump or move in certain ways while they’re still growing.
Although you need to wait till your dog is fully grown to start agility, being proactive with any dog behaviour training from an early age is still important if you want to start your dog’s behaviour on solid foundations. Teaching your dog basic key commands like ‘sit’, ‘lie down’, ‘stay’ and more will always be valuable in everyday life but especially when it comes to trying your hand at agility, whether you plan to do it for some fun or to compete. A dog that is already familiar with learning commands and can listen to your communication will find it far easier to pick up agility tricks than a dog who has been allowed to run riot all through its early life.
How to start dogs in agility training:
Attention
First off, you need to make sure your dog can focus its whole attention on you. Try to set up any dog training equipment in an area of your garden with minimal distractions at first, to give you and your dog the best shot at learning new tricks. Once your dog has shown that is can listen carefully and follow your lead, you can start to practise in slightly busier areas to build up your dogs ability to block out potential distractions.
Body and spatial awareness
Although our dogs are eager to learn and are intelligent by nature, when it comes to some practical skills like spatial and body awareness, they can fall short. Luckily, you can help your dog to understand its own size and be aware of its limbs and where they’re being placed. Rather than investing in legitimate dog agility training equipment, use narrow household items to practise your dog jumping up and keeping its balance.
The ‘back up’ trick, in particular, requires dogs to think of each individual leg as they walk backwards, benefitting both spatial awareness and coordination skills – and an ideal command to teach to help with agility!
Flexibility
Dog agility training is great for improving your dog’s flexibility as well as their fitness. Certain tricks, like weaving between poles and bowing, help to stretch a dog’s muscles in ways they wouldn’t normally get to. To start off with, teach your dog to weave between your legs. Once your dog understands how to move their body in certain ways, you can move onto helping your dog practise weaving around poles or other obstacles. Improved flexibility has major benefits for your dog’s mobility and joints, something which will be hugely valuable for your animal in later life.
Handling
While the main focus is on your dog learning certain moves and tricks, the methods used by you as a handler are key to grasping basic agility training. You need to use positive techniques and have a trusting relationship already established with your pet if you are to succeed.
Transforming from a dog owner into a handler involves using firm language and positive reinforcements such as treats or attention to reward your dog when necessary. It’s important to be patient and tackle each trick and agility obstacle one by one and gradually, to avoid confusing your dog.
What obstacles are in a dog agility course?
Agility is an easy and highly accessible sport to get into. Don’t go out and invest in a range of agility dog training equipment when you can create DIY options that are just as effective for beginners.
- Contact obstacles
There are a few contact obstacles such as the ‘plank walk’ which involve your dog jumping up or walking along objects. While there are specific dog planks on the market, save yourself some money and start out using park benches or other long items around your garden to help your dog practise balancing and become familiar with moving along an object.
- Tire jumping
Use safe objects such as large spare tires or hula hoops to practise your dogs jumping. Keep your DIY agility obstacles at a reasonable height of around two inches to avoid your dog straining its back and use a training lead to direct your dog to jump through, not around, the object. Using plenty of treats and consistent ‘jump’ commands should have your dog ‘jumping through hoops’ for you in no time.
- Tunnels
Got any old kids play tunnels in the back of a shed somewhere? These are ideal replacements for agility equipment and perfect for teaching your dog to run through tunnels. You can even use hollowed out cardboard boxes lined up. Dogs are naturally wary of unknown and dark spaces, so you will likely need to offer a treat or inventive at the other end while your dog gets used to this obstacle.
- Weave poles
Weaving is arguably the hardest agility obstacle for dogs to learn. It involves your dog bending in ways it likely hasn’t had to do before, so you should be prepared for the long process and plenty of patient practise required. At first, use sticks, brooms, plastic cones or any long object that you can stick in the ground on diagonals to each other, allowing you to build up the amount your dog has to bend its body. With enough practise, your dog will understand how to do the movements and will be able to weave in and out at great speed!
Need a wooden dog kennel to help with your agility training?
Investing a quality wooden or WPC eco-thermal dog kennel is a great way to keep your dog safe and secure outdoors when you’re not training. With dog agility training being mentally and physically stimulating for your pet, you can use an outdoor kennel as space for them to relax and unwind out of harm’s way, without having to leave them unattended in your home.
Benchmark Kennel’s are a leading dog kennel manufacturer, offering custom kennels with quick installation to homes all across the UK. Get in touch with their team of dog experts today or customise a kennel online and have it delivered in as little as seven days!
- Published in Blog