By William Coleman
With the cold weather front bearing in we are all looking forward to the spring and summer months more than ever. For pet owners this can sometimes be a bit of a harrowing challenge as they also need to find someone to look after their beloved companions. Well this may just solve all your issues as it seems that our 4 legged canine friends need a break just as much as we do.
Graeme Hall, or as he is better known ‘The Dogfather’, has done some research to reveal that taking your dog on holiday will benefit their mental and physical wellbeing, which could also lead to better long term behaviour.
Parkdean Resorts have now teamed up with ‘The Dogfather’ to make sure that their sites are doing their best to ensure the pooches get their well deserved holiday rest.
Graeme, who hosts Channel 4’s Dogs Behaving Badly and is one of the UK’s top dog behaviour experts has said: “Contrary to what most dog trainers and behaviourists will tell you – dogs are more like humans than you might think. Dogs feel overwhelmed too – it’s not exclusive to us – and a holiday is a great way to alleviate stress for both dogs and their owners. Just like us, they need a break every now and again.”
Things are looking good for you and your next pet friendly holiday, with Parkdean Resorts offering a whole new range of dog friendly options. Last year Parkdean, who are the largest holiday operator in the UK, had over 50,000 pets holidays with them across their sites.
Chief Executive of Parkdean Resorts, John Waterworth, is delighting the pet presence: “We’re a nation of dog lovers and our pets are widely acknowledged as being part of the family. We’ve definitely noticed a rise in the demand for dog-friendly holidays, which is why we’ve made sure we offer pet-friendly accommodation at 67 of our holiday parks.”
Dogs, like all animals, thrive when they are out in nature. So applying this logic comes to the natural conclusion thats dogs were made for holidays. Animals such as dogs are now an integral part of a lot of families and have been for a very long time, so they really are man’s best friend and should be treated as such.
Graeme has made it clear that dogs suffer from psychological issues if they have a lack of exercise which can lead to many life threatening issues, most commonly obesity. He explains: “If kept cooped up for too long, dogs can go ‘stir crazy’ leading to bad behaviour. Some of the most common behavioural problems I encounter in my work can be a result of boredom, and even loneliness. Most dogs are at their happiest being active, preferably outdoors, with their families.
“It’s hard for us to tell how our pets are feeling – we can’t sit down and have a chat with them over a coffee – but the tell-tale signs are there, in anxious behaviour, pining and crying when left alone. All our four-legged friends really want to do is spend time with us and a holiday is the ideal scenario for quality time.”
So not only is it fun to take our pets away but it seems as though it is a crucial ingredient to keeping your dog happy, healthy and well behaved. Something I know that everyone would be extremely keen on doing to ensure the happiness and well being of their pooch.
The Dogfather explained: “A change of scenery can be a great time to get back to basics and create new, good habits for your dog. Dog training takes time and a lot of repetition to bed in new behaviour. Holidays often provide more time in a relaxed environment, away from the demands of day-to-day life.” Graeme believes the best dog trainers are always patient and calm when training their dogs.
A holiday could be the answer to improving your dog’s long-term behaviour, according to Graeme, “Practising the wrong thing will see your dog’s behaviour going in the wrong direction. If you have the time and patience to do the right things repeatedly, you’ll create great new habits for your dog that will last long after you holiday is over. It takes time and a little know-how, but a holiday is a great time to kick-start any new regime.”
To encourage more people to consider holidaying with their dogs, Graeme Hall teamed up with Parkdean Resorts to offer his top tips for dog-friendly holidays, which can be found at: Graeme & Parkdean Resorts Top Doggy Tips
I think we can all agree that we are a lot happier when we are with our pets. All this holiday time is beneficial for both, and a fantastic excuse to not leave the pets at home.
