Summer Activities For You And Your Pup To Enjoy

Summer activities for you and your Pup to enjoy

It’s Summertime ☀️  our favourite time of year here at Pets in a Pickle HQ. The sun is shining, the days are longer and spirits are high. 

Share the fun with your furry friends with our list of paw-some summery activities, from whipping up tasty treats to planning a fun camping weekend getaway.

1. Make pet friendly treats 🐶

Nothing beats a lolly or an ice cream on a hot day! We don’t recommend giving your pet yours, but it would be fun to give them a treat of their own. Brands like Jude’s have their own dog-friendly ice creams but you can make your own treats by draining and freezing their favourite wet food.

2. Pool party or beach day ⛱️

Bring out the paddling pool or pack a towel and head to the nearest beach, it’s time to make a splash! Find some water and let your furry friends cool off, and make sure to do the same. 

Our top bit of advice though, is to keep an eye on them as you would a child. The sea, as with any body of water, can be unpredictable.

3. Camping 🏕️

…or Glamping if you prefer. With large open spaces to run, scenic walking opportunities and cosy afternoons spent reclining by a lake – a local pet-friendly camping spot would be a wonderful way to spend a summer holiday weekend. Check out this handy list of dog-friendly camping and caravanning sites.  

4. picnic 🧺

A summer staple, there’s nothing better than packing up some snacks, grabbing a blanket and dining alfresco on a sunny day. Your dog can join in on this one, pack their favourite treats (maybe in a separate bag so you don’t accidentally munch on a dog biscuit 😅) and head out together. It doesn’t have to be far, a garden works too. Invite some of their best pup pals too to keep them entertained – and make sure to keep them away from human treats.

 

5. Dog friendly bBQ 🍴

Another ultimate summer staple, the BBQ!  Like the picnic, this can be modified to include some dog-friendly foods like :

  • Raw unseasoned vegetables (no skewers!)
  • Chilled fresh fruit like berries and seedless watermelon
  • Grilled unseasoned boneless meats and fish like salmon (prepare theirs first to avoid cross-contamination of seasonings and toppings, like onions, that could be harmful)
Whilst they can join in on some tasty BBQ food and pre and post-cooking fun it’s best to keep them indoors when the grill is on and your food is being prepared and eaten so they don’t hurt themselves or ingest something they shouldn’t.

What are your plans for this summer? Let us know on our socials and feel free to share some more ideas over on our Facebook group with a community of like-minded pet lovers! 

No matter what you get up to, make sure you and your furry friends stay safe and well – read our heatstroke and summer heat tips and take out a free quote so we can have your pets back no matter what.

Contact Pets in a Pickle

For more pet information and facts, check out the other news on Pets in a Pickle. To find out more about the range of policies, get in touch with the team today. Call them now on 0800 044 1111, or contact the team online here.

Follow Pets in a Pickle on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Additional Resources

https://www.webbox.co.uk/blog/10-dog-friendly-bbq-foods

https://www.rover.com/blog/bbq-for-dogs-recipes-safety-in/

5 Activities For You And Your Pet To Enjoy This Christmas

activities for you and your pet to enjoy this Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

One of the best things about Christmas is being able to take part in festive activities with our loved ones, and it’s even better when we can get our fur family involved too! 

Here are our top 5 activities for you and your pet to share in the run-up to Christmas 🎄: 

1. Winter Walk

As the weather gets colder and we move closer to the big day, all of us at Pets in a Pickle are hoping for a White Christmas! Even if we don’t get snow this year, taking a wintery walk with your best fur friend in the crisp air and winter sun can still be a great way to feel festive. 

Make sure both you and your pet wrap up warm as you take a walk through your local park or across country fields and take in the great scenery!  

Check out our top Winter Tips to help keep your pet safe during the colder months. 

2.  Pet friendly treats

A tasty Christmas tradition for many families is baking lots of Christmas cookies and treats that can be devoured on cosy winter evenings. Usually known for stealing food, why not get your pets involved this time with the prep!

Battersea has shared this great recipe on how to make some festive Peanut Butter and Banana treats for your dog to eat this year!  

It’s a great way to get your pooch involved with the festive fun while also keeping them safe from any harmful food they shouldn’t eat.  

For more information, make sure to read our article on keeping your pets healthy at Christmas which outlines our top food dos and don’ts for your pet. Want extra protection? Take out a policy with us and get access to unlimited video consultations with FirstVet 🐾 

3. Christmas carols

Having a singsong at Christmas is an old tradition but it’s one we love, so why not get your pets involved?

If your dog is one to howl at the radio or sing along with Happy Birthday, we think having them take part in some carolling is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.  

From ‘Jingle Bells’ to ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’, we can guarantee that when we are hitting those high notes our dogs are quick to join in! 

4.  Christmas presents

Christmas is the season of giving and when it comes to that joy of finding and wrapping the perfect gift or the exciting moment when the recipient opens their special present – we couldn’t deny our pets the fun! 

Our furry family members can get involved by helping to wrap gifts but we’re not sure how useful they’ll be!  

They may be better at unwrapping a gift…so why not treat them to something too. Check out our gift guide for dogs and cats. 

5. Festive movie nights

With so many great festive movies to watch over the holiday season, we couldn’t miss an opportunity to cuddle up in the evening with our fur-babies to watch a Christmas film.  

Our festive favourites include:  

  • The Grinch of course our most-loved character is Max the dog.  
  • A Gift From Bob which stars the gorgeous, ginger tabby, Bob. 
  • Gremlins, although we’re sorry to say we won’t be extending our insurance policies to include Mogwai. 
     

What did you think of our top 5 activities for you and your pet this Christmas? Let us know on our socials which ones you will be part-taking in.  

Or why not share any other activity suggestions you have? We’d love to hear them!  

Contact Pets in a Pickle

For more pet information and facts, check out the other news on Pets in a Pickle. To find out more about the range of policies, get in touch with the team today. Call them now on 0800 044 1111, or contact the team online here.

Follow Pets in a Pickle on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

5 ways to look after your pets during Fireworks

5 ways to look after your pets during Fireworks

Fireworks are used for many a celebration from Bonfire Night to New Year’s Eve, and whilst we may love their bright lights showering across the sky our furry friends aren’t always so pleased!

To help keep your pets safe and well during the festivities, we’ve compiled five tips to prepare them before and during fireworks shows.

1. Create a cosy haven or hiding place

A cosy, quiet space full of all your pets’ favourite toys, blankets, bedding, and chews (especially long-lasting to see them through the night) or a nook for them to hide in make great places for them to seek refuge and feel safe in during Fireworks shows.

Moving them into this space in the evenings leading up to the fireworks puts them in a routine and trains them to associate the space with positive feelings and experiences so they can seek it out when stressed.

2. Exercise In The Morning​

If you can, move your daily walk to during the day before it gets dark. This way they can be tucked up in their blankets by the time the fireworks start.

Avoid letting cats out during the evening by closing cat flaps and escape-proof your garden in case they get out somehow by ensuring holes in fences, or broken gate locks are fixed.

3. Cover & Distract

In the evening make sure to close all windows and put up your thickest curtains to muffle the loud sounds and hide the flashing lights. This will reduce the severity of their triggers.

Following this, distract their attention from the sounds outside with a pet-friendly playlist, soft music, radio or TV (make sure it’s nothing too frightening). 

We especially recommend Classic FM’s Pet Classics playlist, research has suggested that Classical music is especially soothing for pets.

4. Remain calm

Try and remain calm and as unbothered by the fireworks as possible. Talk to and interact with your pets normally as though it’s just another day. This will help reduce their anxiety.

We know it’s tempting but try not to smother them and give them too much attention. Do allow them to feel your presence and know you are there if needed.

5. Consult a vet and try medications

In extreme cases, it may be time to contact a vet for medication and treatments to help with your pet’s anxiety.

Pheromone plug-in diffusers, which create a sense of calm in pets, are also available in speciality pet stores and online*.

*This is not guaranteed health advice.

 

If you have an anxious pet, we hope you find something helpful in these tips to help ease their fear around this time. 

Happy Howlidays to you and your four-legged friends, we hope you can both enjoy the celebrations safe and happy.

Have some more tips of your own? Comment them below!

Contact Pets in a Pickle

For more pet information and facts, check out the other news on Pets in a Pickle. To find out more about the range of policies, get in touch with the team today. Call them now on 0800 044 1111, or contact the team online here.

Follow Pets in a Pickle on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Additional Sources:

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/fireworks

https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-care-advice/%E2%80%8Bdogs-and-fireworks

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/pets-and-fireworks