Walks

If you're worried about global plastic waste, you're not alone. Around 400 million tonnes of the stuff is produced every year, with an estimated 50% of this being single-use plastic. But what can we do to reduce our individual plastic footprint as pet owners? The answer's simpler than you might think...

Poo bags are an unavoidable part of life for dog owners. With around 13 million dogs in UK homes, the daily tally of waste bags used across the country is staggering. Unfortunately, the journey of these bags doesn’t end when we throw them in the bin. Instead, many of them go on to contribute to one of the planet's biggest challenges — plastic pollution.

The problem with traditional plastic poo bags lies in how they break down. These bags, often made from petroleum-based plastics, don’t decompose naturally. Instead, they can take hundreds of years to degrade in landfill, all the while breaking into smaller pieces known as microplastics. These tiny particles contaminate soil and waterways,

Summer is behind us, and we’ll soon be walking our dogs in the gloomy mornings and evenings of autumn. But those strolls can come with a few challenges....

Visibility is a major concern for many dog owners heading out in the autumn and winter darkness. It can be more difficult for drivers to see you, and let’s face it, walking at night can sometimes be frightening for both us and our dogs.

So to help keep you and your dog safe on evening and morning walks, here are our top tips as those longer nights draw in.

Wear reflective gear:

Ensure people can see you and your dog at all times. Improving your visibility will not only allow drivers to see you better, but you’ll be able to keep track of your dog if you let them off lead.  Reflective gear could also prevent your dog from becoming lost if they sometimes break free from their harness or collar.

To keep yourself visible, avoid dark colours and consider wearing a reflective vest. For your pooch, you can use a reflective collar, lead,

Although we ship our products nationwide, Healthful Pets are based in the beautiful county of Cheshire. So whether you are local or planning a visit, we thought we’d share one of our favourite local walks with you... 

This walk starts and finishes at a local country, The Plough, a very dog friendly pub, so you can be sure of refreshment after your walk.

This walk takes in The Whitegate Way which 100 years ago was a branch line connecting the Winsford Salt Mines to the main Chester to Manchester line at Cuddington; now it is a gorgeous country path about 7 miles long.

You will also see some of the areas many lakes and meres, farming landscapes, woodland, and streams. It’s a walk for everyone and the scenery is constantly changing, so it doesn’t even seem like a long walk. There aren’t any steep climbs either so it’s suitable for all. We’ve also added an alternative return for those who fancy something a little shorter – the entire walk is about 8.5 miles and the shorter one about 5.

Summer is prime time for walking trips and exploring the great outdoors. Since our dogs are members of the family, we’re always looking for ways we can include them too. But when it comes to walking trips with your pooch, there are some special considerations you have to bear in mind, it's not quite as simple as just 'pack up and leave.'Here are 8 backpacking essentials to ensure you and your dog have a fun and safe walking trip this summer.

Water

Be sure to pack plenty of water for both you and your dog. Hydration is the number one priority here. While exercising in the heat you’ll both be thirstier than normal, so you may need to pack more than you’d expect. Dogs need to drink up to 50% more in hotter climates and you certainly don’t want to run out when you are miles away from anywhere.  Furr Boost  grab & go cartons are perfect for all of your adventures where your dog is by your side on long walks or on very hot days.  Alternatively Pawer Water are advanced hydration sachets

Exercising your Dog…the many benefits and how much exercise does your dog need?

One thing that all breeds of dog have in common is a love and a need for daily. From Pug to Pointer and Labrador to Lhasa Apso; they all thrive on fresh air and activity.

Dogs love to go outdoors to engage with their environment and socialise with other dogs and people. Exercise will keep your dog’s frame strong, weight in a healthy range and it will also help prevent or alleviate degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis.

There are a number of factors influencing the exercise needs of your dog. These include its breed, age and overall health….in fact, this can also vary from dog to dog.

Adult dogs of the working and sporting variety, ideally, need an absolute minimum of an hour's running per day (and for some breeds much more); twenty minutes on the lead around the block really won't cut it for a Hungarian Viszla or any other dog bred to work all day long… they will end up miserable and probably chewing

We all know how important physical exercise is for keeping our dogs fit and healthy. But as experts agree, a combination of both physical and mental stimulation is key to a happy, healthy dog.

Many owners today still believe they must physically wear out their dog to get any peace at home. When in fact you’ll burn excess energy more effectively with mental workouts. If your dog uses their brain for just 5 minutes, they’ll actually feel more tired than after a 20-minute walk around the block.

Keeping your dog’s brain active will significantly improve their general well-being and alleviate common behaviour problems. Mental exercise has multiple benefits for both us and our dogs. Here are the top five reasons for introducing mental stimulation into your dog’s routine.

Prolongs brain health

Unfortunately as our dogs grow older, not only do their bodies deteriorate, their minds do too. Older dogs can develop cognitive dysfunction where their brain slows down and they suffer memory loss – essentially

The classic Malham Walk is a circular route incorporating Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar, Malham Cove and Malham Tarn. A fantastic walk taking in a wide range of terrain and beautiful scenery – one of the finest walks in the Yorkshire Dales.

Key Walk Facts: Approximately 6 1/2 miles. 4-hours.

Map of Route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/581396

You may have seen this walk featured recently on the ITV programme The Top 100 Walks in the UK – this fantastic Malham walk came in at number 3. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of years living at Malham Tarn and did this walk frequently in all weathers. It’s a circular route of just over 6 miles and you should allow 4 hours to give you time to pause and enjoy the many different views. It takes in a wide range of terrain and some lovely scenery from woodland streams, wild flowers and waterfalls to huge mountainous gorges and barren hill tops; it is no wonder it is in the top 3 favourite UK walks.

WALK REPORT

The route involves some climbs,