Dog walks: Tolka valley park

I found that there are so many dog walks near Dublin!
Enjoying the nice Irish summer I brought my dog to many different places in the last couple of months.
Tolka valley park is one of them.

It has been quite difficult to find where it was and where to park my car!
Actually I parked at the Blanchardstown shopping center and I had to walk toward the N3/M50 entrance to find the gate for Tolka Valley Park.
I am sure there will be other accesses but I didn't find them on any website.

If you know one of them please feel free to add it in the comments!



Tolka valley is a linear park that run alongside the Tolka river and incorporates 300 acres of grassland.
It was very nice to see the change of landscape, between the big shopping center, N3 the work in progress on the road with big machines... and the quiet paths along the river, the small animals, the dogs and people jogging.
It was a Sunday morning when Jago and me went discovering this place.

Obviously he had good fun in the river, he loves water and the fetch the ball in the water :)
He also loves running on small paths when he can go to discover the "forest", but also open areas are good for sniffing :)

We met other dog owners and he could have a good run and play time with them.

Unfortunately it started raining so we couldn't explore the whole park, only a small part, but I am planning to go back again.


From the fingal website:

" The park is home to a rich variety of animal and plant species such as otters, kingfishers, dippers, bats, cowslips and willows . 

* The park offers a diverse, natural and tranquil landscape which is great for walking and jogging and the river supports an abundance of brown trout, providing for some good fishing." 

How to get to Tolka Valley Park?

N3 from Dublin to Navan, exit Blanchardstown.
Car park at the Blanchardstown shopping centre.
I hope to find new car park and entrance.
By BUS, Busses 38 and 39 from O'Connell Street, Dublin to Blanchardstown.

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Dog neutering, Jago experience

I have read so many discussions about if it's right or not to neuter a dog.
I spoke with many people and friends.
Obviously the first reaction is: NO!
It's against the nature, poor dog,we cannot choose for them and so on.
Then I start thinking how many abandoned animals live out there.
How many are put to sleep, just because nobody want them.

We didn't neuter our first dog.
I don't know exactly why, we were new to dogs and maybe we didn't have any strong advice to neuter him.
I know that around 2 years old he became aggressive with male dogs.
Maybe he would have also if neutered, but usually it helps to avoid aggressiveness.
Unfortunately we had to neuter him when he was already older for a testicular cancer.
He recovered and had no problems, but obviously it's always better to have surgeries when the dog is younger.
He was also started to have some prostate issue.

I neutered Jago when he was 6 months old.
First of all because I don't intend to use him for breeding.
He would not have had any sexual active life.
And he would have suffered.
My previous entire dog was suffering so much when there was a dog in heat.
He was crying for days even if the dog was living quite far from us.

Medical benefits of neutering are

• Testicular cancer. 
• Prostate problems. 

Neutering doesn't change the dog behavior.
He will be playful, energetic and happy, but less likely to develop some behavior like for example aggression toward other males, urine marking, roaming.

And the most important part is to avoid the birth of unwanted dogs.
Jago mother was very young when she had him.
His owner thought to wait a bit before spaying her.
They went on holidays, she had her first heat and came back pregnant.
She had 8 puppies.
The family couldn't cope with all those puppies!
They could re-home some of them, but not all! They were about giving the 4 males to the pound.

Usually neutering male dogs is a very easy surgery.
I brought Jago to the vet in the morning, he had all the blood tests and I collected him in the evening.
I was really stressed and scared.
I was expecting Jago tired and sad after the anesthetic but he was ready to play!
And hyperactive 6 months old Setter X.
The vet told me I didn't need the cone.
He was prescribed some pain killer and nothing else.
The morning after the surgery he wasn't able to walk and suffering a lot.
Unfortunately he started licking the wound.
I brought him to the vet and they gave us a plastic cone that he destroyed in 10 minutes.
They told me to put it on only sometimes, that usually dogs don't need it etc etc.
They told me to keep Jago quiet, but not in the crate.
Yeah, easy.
Jago was running and jumping even suffering and still trying to lick the wound.

I bought a soft cone, much much better than the plastic one.
James Marketing Comfy Cone Large 25-33cm After one week, when usually everything is fine, Jago was prescribed antibiotics, pain killer and the cone 24 hour.
It took 2 weeks to recover.
It has been really hard, he was suffering but still wanted to play, to jump, to run off lead.
We had been allowed quiet walks on lead after one week.
It's funny how he started playing with the tennis ball using the cone to throw it!
They can drink and eat with the soft cone and it's not that bad to sleep with it :)
Anyway, so happy to run again free when he recovered!
It was a sunny day and we went celebrating to a nice park!

I am pro neutering, just be careful, if the dog is young, hyper active and licking the wound, please, use the cone!!
It will be a lot easier and faster the recovery!

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Dog walks: Ticknock wood

We are part of  Dublin dog meetup group.
Every saturday we go to a different place and that allows me to discover new dog walks!

Ticknock forest is on the Dublin mountains, 30 minutes far from the city centre.

We met on a Sunday morning at the car park with the other doggies at 12.
The 3 crazy dogs of the group started running and playing, it is safe to leave them off lead and we didn't have problems with the people we met.

The route is very nice, you can follow the main road, big and safe or go on some lateral smaller paths.
There are scenic points with a beautiful view on the coast, Bray and Dublin.
We did a circle, about 90 minutes walk, a bit uphill but not difficult.
There were parts with water where the dogs had a lot of fun.
There are no dangerous cliffs and the dogs can enjoy, explore and run free!
 You can find more information here http://www.dublinmountains.ie/index.php?id=135

At the end of the walk we had some coffee and drinks at the local pub, with an outdoor area where dogs where allowed!

Definitely a nice dog walk, I will go there again and explore new routes! 

Parking Info:

Please use the car park facilties provided and do not block local resident's access along the public road.

Car park closes: 16:00 Nov-March; 20:00 April-Oct
Parking fee price: None

How do I get there?

From the city centre, head for Marlay Park via Rathfarnham. Passing the main entrance to the Park on your right, turn right at Ballinteer, St John's GGA Club and, following the road around the edge of the Park, turn left at the Taylor’s Grange junction onto the R113. Take the second turn on the right and this will bring you to the entrance to Tiknock forest. 

Tiknock Forest Entrance @53.255695,-6.251113

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Canine First Responder certification - Dublin

I am seriously thinking to attend this course (or another similar).
It looks very interesting to be able to be prepared in front of emergency.
This is a certified course that is not far away from me, but I am sure there will be others.

The Canine First Response (CFR) is a worldwide certification agency for First Aid and CPR. This course is the only one approved by Canine First Response.

The course covers the following and more:
Effective use of barriers such as gloves and face shields
Safe scene assessment
Primary Assessment
Canine CPR and rescue breathing
Spinal Injury Management
Control of serious bleeding
Shock Management
Splinting for broken limbs
Choking Management
And more
This course will give you the tools you need to be prepared should that medical emergency arise with your beloved pet.  

http://www.dogtrainingireland.ie/canine-first-aid.php

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Compulsory microchipping in Ireland

I just read that it will be compulsory in Ireland to microchip your dog.
I had Jago microchipped few months ago and I believe that it's very important!

It's not an expensive procedure and not painful for the dog.

Unfortunately many dogs are microchipped but not registered to the actual owner.

Just beware that many vet will not register the dog to your name, so you must do it usually online.
And also remember to change online your contact details if you move or you change phone number.
Unfortunately the same thing happens with the breeder.
Often when I read of lost dogs, they are microchipped but registered only to the breeder, and often it's not possible to find the owner.

There are a lot of events to help get many dogs as possible microchipped.
I know at least two of them, Dublin DSPCA

http://www.dspca.ie/index.jsp?a=615&n=232&p=158

 

and Dog Trust Ireland


http://www.dogstrust.ie/az/m/microchipping/#.UhfWXH91uSo

"Dogs Trust are offering free microchipping for all dogs for the months of August and September. "









Some info from Dog Trust website:

1. What is a microchip?
A microchip is a small electronic device, which is the size of a grain of rice. The microchip is coded with a unique number that can be read by a scanner. A microchip works through radio wave frequency.

2. How is the microchip implanted?
Using a specially designed implanting device the microchip is injected through a sterile needle under the dog's skin.

3. Where is the microchip implanted?
In dogs, the microchip is implanted under the skin, between the shoulder blades.

4. Does it hurt?
No anaesthetic is required and the procedure should cause no more discomfort than a standard vaccination.

more info:
www.dogstrust.ie/az/m/microchipping

Here is 5 top reasons why you should Microchip your pet:

           1. Microchip identification is the most permanent way to identify your pet.
           2. Collars and pet tags are great but they can fall off or be removed.
           3. Microchipping is a safe, practical & excellent way to identify your pet.
           4. Your pets microchip is a unique 15 digit number that once registered online is linked to your details.
           5. Microchipping is a sure way to reunite you and your pet.


So remember, microchipping your dog will be compulsory, but even without a law we must know that is very important!
Unfortunately it happen quite often that a dog get lost.
A lot of times the tag could be lost as well, or the collar, so it would be very difficult to trace back the owner!
If you love your dog, please consider microchipping!

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