Another dog friendly pub in Dublin

Another place to add to the list of dog friendly pubs Tonight I've been in Schoolhouse pub / hotel in Ballsbridge Dublin 4 for the leaving party of a friend. I brought Jago as I knew they have a big outdoor space. There are tables and chairs and nobody was complaining that I was there with Jago. So another dog friendly pub found! Finally in Dublin city! He even met a dog, off leash, I suppose coming from the houses in the nearby...

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Back from work..

Coming back from work one day Jago didn't run to say hello...  I realized something was wrong....... ......................... ................... ........................................................................................................................     ............. ............. .................... .......... Here he is!!!! Busy destroying the new blanket!!   Me:...

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What Jago likes?

What Jago likes | Create infographi...

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doggie day care

Since I got Jago my concern was: will he be bored at home? I live in a house with a garden, medium size garden. I work not far from my house, 10 minutes by car. I adopted Jago when he was a tiny 10 weeks old puppy. I know that many people are against adopting a puppy if you work full time, but the owner couldn't find a home for the 8 puppies and he was ready to bring them to the pound. So I took some days off and on a Friday I brought...

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Training: recall!

***Please note that I am NOT a dog trainer, so I am just sharing my experience with my own dogs..  I may be doing wrong things and I am open to suggestions :) *** Well, we all know that one of the most important things is to be able to control our dogs. And especially... to make them come back when called! I thought it was kind of impossible... I've never been able! So with Jago I started early. I got Jago when he was 10 weeks old, a scared tiny puppy. Since his 1st walk outside I started the recall training. I was bringing...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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HOUSE TRAINING YOUR PUPPY – my experience

Here we are! The puppy is beautiful and cute... but how difficult is to house train him? Obviously it depends! I got my first dog when he was 6 months old, coming from a pound. We were living in an apartment and he was NEVER soiling in the apartment! Incredible!  I don’t know how he learnt himself... but he was brilliant! I spoke with a friend that got his Labrador from the breeder when he was a tiny pup. He learnt alone as well to don’t pee in the house! With Jago… another story! He needed to pee? Everywhere...

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Dog sick in the car

Jago used to be always sick in the car. Since the first time I brought him home, he started… vomiting :S It continued for EVERY trip, no matter how long and no matter if he had food or not before. Obviously I started  to carry around a lot of blankets, napkins, and cleaning products.. I have been asking around on forums and to the vet. He didn't have any health issue, but he was very stressed obviously and he started hating the car. Every time that he saw me taking the car keys he was running away, hiding, laying...

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Games to play with your dog: FIND IT

FIND IT! Playing this game with our dog we will help him to "use his nose", it will provide mental stimulation, training commands and will make him happy for the treats and praises he will receive! 1. Ask your dog to sit and stay 2. Show him a treat 3. Move away from him and hide the treat - if it's the first time show him where are you "hiding" the treat 4. Ask him "find it" and praise him! It is important to start slowly with easy steps or you will just confuse him. The first times the dog should see where you are hiding...

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Games to play with your dog: HIDE AND SEEK

Another way to play and train your dog! It's a very nice game and it is a great mental exercise! I've seen that Jago not only needs to release his energies, but also to feel engaged in something more "mental". And Hide and seek it's also good fun!! Your dog should already know the command "stay". 1. Show a treat to your dog or his favorite toy 2. Ask him to "stay". 3. Go to another room and hide somewhere. 4. Call your dog and wait until he finds you! 5. When he finally finds you praise him a lot and give him the treat / toy. My...

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Dog Walks - St. Catherine's Park

*** UPDATE *** Now there is an enclosed area in the park!Finally also dogs with no recall can run free and socialize with their friends!*************** Another beautiful dog walk where I bring Jago often is St. Catherine's Park. It is a very nice and big park between Lucan and Leixlip. In the main entrance there is a public car park with enough spaces and toilette. The park is 200 acres and has many different areas. In the southern...

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Agility show

Watching some agility.. from far.. he wanted to jump in and go playing!   ...

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Fun dog show!

Going here today! Fun dog Show & agility show in aid of Dogs Aid ...

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Dog friendly pubs / bar in Dublin

I need your help! I am trying to find where I can go to drink something with friends, without leaving Jago at home.   Obviously I am not talking about going to Pub on Friday night, but maybe an afternoon tea / drink in a quiet place. I am quite sure that there aren't places that would allow dogs inside. But I found difficult also to sit at the tables outside! So I am starting my research! I've been eating a couple of times in Malahide,...

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Games to play with your dog - TUG O'WAR

***Please note that I am NOT a dog trainer, so I am just sharing my experience with my own dogs..  I may be doing wrong things and I am open to suggestions :) *** When I decided to adopt a dog my main concern was: I don't want him to be aggressive! For this reason until few weeks ago I never played "Tug O'War" with him. I was sure it was a game that would teach him to be aggressive, to show aggressive behavior. Then I started reading...

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The peach stone experience!

Jago loves eating everything. He loves fruit as well. Especially clementines, but also apples and banana. I don't give him too much fruit, only sometimes. I had the brilliant idea to give him a peach. Argh. Intelligent idea. He started eating it all happy. I was looking at him and sure to be able to stop him.... but he then finished swallowing everything.. also the peach stone (pit). !!!! Panic!!! He is a crazy dog, but I am sometimes an anxious owner, so obviously I started googling for "dog ate peach stone". And obviously...

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Games to play with your dog - FETCH

***Please note that I am NOT a dog trainer, so I am just sharing my experience with my own dogs..  I may be doing wrong things and I am open to suggestions :) *** We all know that playing with our dog is very important. It’s important to keep them busy, active, entertained, to avoid boredom and to build a good relationship with the owner. It’s important to set rules and to use the play time also for training.. but.. don’t forget to HAVE FUN! Jago is very active.. I would say hyperactive.. he is never tired to...

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Dog walks - Malahide beach

One of the first Jago’s walk has been Malahide beach! He was only a 3 months old puppy and it has been fantastic watching him enjoying and discovering the water! Since then we are going to Malahide beach often. Malahide village is 16 km from Dublin, on the North side. I usually go by car, there is a free public parking with a lot of space. The town is served also by the DART and some buses going there (42, 32 if I am not wrong). There...

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