Top tips to ensure your pet doesn’t rule the roost!

Tips for travel

Our recent research of pet owners revealed that 71% of us set house rules for our beloved animals before we welcome them into our homes, only for a quarter to disregard these ground rules in the first week and one in 10 on the first day!

Luckily, we have some useful tips if you want to keep your beloved furry friends out of your bed, off the sofa and out from under your feet at the dinner table.

• A great solution to keep your pet out of the bed while you are sleeping is to make sure they have a cosy and comfortable bed to use for themselves.
• If you feel too guilty about leaving them at first or they aren’t trained yet, then their pet bed can be placed in your bedroom until they are used to it, and then moved into another room or downstairs once they have got comfortable in it.
• It can be confusing for your pet if one family member lets them on the couch and the other tells them to get off, so ensuring everyone in the family abides by the same rules can really help.
• Always feed your dog or cat in their own dish and never from the table. Feed your pet immediately before you sit down to eat your own dinner, as they will then be full and less likely to beg.
• Training and unlearning bad habits between you and your dog in the home can be a long process, but persistence is the key to resolving these matters.

Best Dog-friendly Sites

North Ledaig Caravan Park, Argyll

With a spectacular seashore location and stunning views, this site is situated close to Oban. Here you can hop on a ferry to explore the offshore islands.

North Ledaig is nestled alongside two miles of private sand and shingle beach and around the park is a dog walk along the old railway line. There is also a nature trail. Pitches are mostly gravel hardstanding with sea views and front row pitches border the beach. There are two toilet blocks, a laundry and dishwashing.

W northledaigcaravanpark.com

Smytham Holiday Park, Devon

With 33 acres and surrounding fields, this park is a dog’s dream. The parkland location makes for perfect walking and the long-distance Tarka Trail can be accessed directly from the site.

Pitches are set in the grounds of the old manor house and include basic grass up to en suite pitches with your own toilet and shower on the pitch. Amenities on site include toilets, showers, laundry, shop, seasonal bar and outdoor pool. There is also a dog exercise paddock.

W smytham.co.uk

Webbox Festive Dog Bauble

For pawfect canines who have been extra good this year, this Festive Bauble with Bone Shaped Biscuit is the perfect gift to hang on the tree. Containing milk biscuits free from soya and beef, for adult dogs. Naughty or nice, every pet deserves a Webbox treat this Christmas!

RRP £2, Morrisons, Ocado and online at webbox.co.uk

Webbox Festive Lick-e-Lix

Made with a soft yogurt-like texture, Webbox Festive Lick-e-Lix with Turkey & Cranberry are the unique treat for your cat. Feed as a tasty treat, use as a topping or disguise crushed up tablets for your cat. These tasty and nutritious sachets make the perfect daily treat that your cat will simply adore!

RRP £1, Available in Morrisons, Ocado and at webbox.co.uk

Star Pet Winner

This month’s winner is young pup Willow (pictured) sent in by Shelagh Kirk.

Star Pet

Naughty or nice, every pet deserves a Webbox Christmas!

We’ve teamed up with leading pet food brand, Webbox, to offer four lucky readers the chance to win a delicious £25 hamper of goodies for your pet from the Webbox Festive range. Pick up your pet’s Christmas pressie in your local Morrisons stores, independent pet shops and online at Ocado and webbox.co.uk.

To win all the above, send a photo of your pet on tour to [email protected]