13 minute read
THEY CALL IT PUPPY LOVE
THEY CALL IT
PUPPY LOVE
Samantha Martin talks about the things to consider before getting a puppy
Before I start this, I must confess that I, Samantha Martin, sometimes (often), prefer the company of dogs to humans.
I saw Roy Keane in a recent interview make the comment that if you want loyalty then to get a dog. He’s not wrong. Any dog owner will tell you that the love and loyalty from your dog is way more than that of any human. But don’t be fooled by all the love, fluff and cuddles of a puppy. Since we are in the post-Christmas new puppy season, it’s important to remember that dogs aren’t just for Christmas. They are 24/7 and require a lot of care and attention.
Getting a puppy is not a decision to be taken lightly or on a whim.
A few weeks ago we brought home our latest dog, Derek, a beautiful Cavapoo, aged 11 weeks. I’ve had several dogs in the past so I’m experienced enough in taking care of a dog. I’ve been wanting to get one for a while, since my last Labrador died at the ripe old age of 13. But this time I wanted my daughter to be able to help take care of the dog more, so we needed
something smaller and less active. I did quite a lot of research into different breeds and their temperament and went to view several puppies. The moment we set eyes on Derek we were in love.
If you’ve made the decision to get a puppy, and it’s your first one, you may want to have a second think before making the commitment. Because it’s a massive commitment. Puppies are like babies, just allowed in a lot less places. They are tying, cost a lot to keep, and take up a lot of your time until they are fully trained, or at least house trained. It’s also important to know the breed you are getting. If you want long country walks, then you’d be more suited to something like a Labrador. But if you want a cuddle machine that doesn’t shed its hair, then a breed like my Derek is ideal. It’s important to think about other family members too. If you have chidren, especially young children they might think a puppy is like a toy, then make sure you choose a dog that is ok with children. Likewise, think about visitors to your home, or being able to socialise when out and about.
The timing of us getting Derek was also carefully thought through. I knew that to get him settled and trained quickly and easily, I would have to spend most of my time with him for the first few days and be at home with him for a few weeks.
Please do not think that you can collect a puppy on a Friday and start to leave it on its own when you go to work on Monday. That is just asking for problems.
To a puppy, everything is a new experience and often frightening. You have to be on hand to give them lots of reassurance and love to help them settle in to their new home. They will cry and it’s important to not ignore this or let them get anxious. Even at night, just a quick reassurance and a little rub will help to calm them. This does however mean that you are going to have to sleep with the dog close by for the first few days, and your sleep will be disturbed.
A puppy also doesn’t know right from wrong, so you must use positive rewards and praise to help them learn the basic rules of the house. Obviously, toilet training is the big one here and this does take time. Your dog will soon learn that they need to go outside to go to the toilet if this is reinforced with treats and praise. Your dog wants to please you. They want to make you happy. But everything is new to them so basic training just takes a little while to master. In the beginning, if you are using puppy pads, then be sure to praise the dog for using them. But give them even more praise for going outside.
We’ve been very lucky with Derek as his breed is naturally very intelligent. He mastered using the puppy pads by day two and was already learning his signals for wanting to go outside. When he learnt there was a treat involved this soon became wanting to go out every five minutes so we had to reinforce the message that although he was a good boy for going out, he only got a treat if he actually did something.
Sleeping at night can be like having a newborn baby. For the first two weeks Derek would wake in the night wanting to go out. But I’d quickly let him out and then straight back to bed, settled and back to sleep. By his third week with us, he was sleeping right through the night, with a roaring snore that sounded like a little piggy.
I will reiterate that we have been very lucky with Derek and he’s been very good and settled very quickly. But we knew from the start we had to make ourselves available to help him settle. This wasn’t going to be a part time hobby.
It is true that dogs are man’s best friend. I am delighted that we now have another dog and I am sure that he will bring us lots of love over the years. But if you are thinking of getting a dog then please think very carefully and be prepared for it. n
WONDERS OF
WINTER CYCLING…
Even in the depths of winter you can maintain fitness by cycling safely in all weathers. Ex-pro rider Jamie Burrow, Head of Product at Ribble Cycles advises on how to keep safe and enhance your riding experience, come rain or shine
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get fit and stay fit, or if you simply want to maintain a level of fitness that you’ve worked hard to achieve, cycling is the perfect sport to keep you motivated during the cold winter months. While it’s often accepted that this is the season when cyclists keep warm and dry using home or gym trainers, getting outdoors in the fresh air is invaluable in terms of enjoyment and excitement. Here are some top tips to keep you safe and warm.
MAINTAIN MOTIVATION
Although the long, dark and cold winter days can seem off-putting, finding motivation at this time of year is key to your coming season and sporting goals. Whether you are a full-blooded road racer or an occasional sportive rider, or simply to increase your general fitness and overall wellbeing, the foundations to your training and eventual fitness are built during the winter months. Personally, I prefer to be outside and find the cold and dark aid my motivation. Just remember that starting in these conditions, things can only get better. You will notice your form increasing along with the longer brighter days, tempting you to go that bit further and faster.
KEEP WARM & DRY
Keeping dry in winter can simply mean staying comfortable, but also staying healthy. One of my biggest issues while racing as a professional was getting sick easily. The fitter we are often makes us more prone to illness as our immune system struggles to keep up. I would always recommend having a rain jacket in your back pocket even if the forecast looks good. With typical UK weather it is so easy to get caught in a
shower even just for a few minutes. It’s not even the getting wet that’s the issue. It’s staying wet and subsequently getting cold that causes the problem. • Take a rain jacket or gilet on all rides. • If you stop mid-ride for a coffee break put on a dry jacket instead of sitting around in damp clothes. • Good gloves, hat and overshoes are relatively cheap items that can really save your day if the weather turns bad.
Although your body usually keeps warm from the heat generated during exercise, hands and feet don’t receive the same amount of circulation and are directly in the path of cold wind and freezing hands can be one of the worst experiences on a bike.
STAY SAFE
With many of us having to fit our winter riding into our daily commute or even after work or school, we are often forced to take on the traffic as well as darkness. Staying safe in these circumstances is crucial. Obviously, fitting lights to your bike is compulsory but there are a whole host of gadgets, gizmos and accessories to help keep you seen and safe in winter. • Reflective clothing – night vision technology is now a common theme
across winter clothing with select panels or even entire garments made from 360 degree, fully reflective fabrics that are activated by car head lights. I’ve been using one of these for years now and wouldn’t ride without it during my winter commute. • Bicycle lights have come on a long way since I started riding with the now classic, but not so powerful, battery operated lamps. We are now looking at USB chargeable, super powerful lights that could easily take on any car headlight with the level of brightness they offer.
The best lights available are now graded by lumens, with around 200 lumens an acceptable output for a front light, although some manufacturers offer way over 2000 lumens, which is ideal for off road riding. • Reflective handlebar tape – this is an often-overlooked accessory.
WEAR & TEAR
Winter is also the least favourite time of year for your beloved bicycle. Rain, snow, salty roads and hidden pot-holes are just a few of the elements your bike has to cope with during the dark season. Taking care of your machine will prolong its life span and generally keep it in fit working order like yourself. • Check your tyres regularly for cuts and debris. Run slightly less pressure than you would in the summer for added grip in the wet. • Use 3-1 sprays on moving parts such as gears and chain after wet weather rides. (Ideally wash your bike with clean water after all wet rides and then apply 3-1 spray.)
• Keep your chain well oiled. This will keep your gears running smoothly especially in wet conditions. • Keep an eye on brake pad consumption as wet gritty roads will wear your brakes down faster than dry conditions. • It’s worthwhile investing in a simple DIY maintenance kit. n
AWARD WINNER
Browsholme Hall in Lancashire is the first winner of a new award, recognising and celebrating the work done by independently owned historic houses in the field of sustainability
Having been nominated for the new Historic Houses Sustainability Award, Robert and Amanda Parker of Browsholme Hall, impressed the judges with their innovative projects at Browsholme, which Robert inherited from a distant relative aged just 19.
A successful wedding venue in a repurposed tithe barn uses a ground source heat pump. By contrast, a different approach was needed at the hall, where the larger space and poorer thermal properties of the listed building, meant underfloor heating wasn’t an option. Instead, a woodchip boiler has made the rooms habitable, fuelled on a sustainable basis by cropping the managed woodland behind the house on a perpetual 60-year cycle.
Visitors to the café enjoy a Five Mile Menu on which most of the ingredients are sourced from local farms and suppliers – and some from the vegetable patch visible from the kitchen window. The café area doubles as an education space for parties of school children, who learn about the diversity of species that can be found. Adults too, enjoy the outdoors through forest bathing offered in the green glades of the mature woodland.
A recent grant from the Culture Recovery Fund funded the repair of half the ancient stone roof, with modifications to protect the bats. The works also allowed for the insulation of the building for the first time.
The success of the hall’s commercial activities – including a selection of selfcontained pods in the grounds that provide accommodation for wedding guests – is crucial to funding the Parker’s sustainability efforts.
Ben Cowell, Director General of Historic Houses said: “When your family has passed on their house and contents intact for centuries, the idea of planning for future generations is ‘baked in’ to the management of Britain’s great independently and privately owned houses, most of which are family homes as well as tourist attractions, hospitality businesses, wedding venues, film locations and places for enjoyment and learning.
“The urgency of the present climate crisis and a growing awareness of the impact of all our activities has seen the owners of Britain’s historic houses taking new steps to ensure that the heritage they look after has a future, in a cleaner more sustainable world.
“That’s why we’ve created this new award, with our sponsors Savills, and why we want to celebrate and reward those who are at the cutting edge of the contribution heritage can make to our future.”
Amanda and Robert Parker, add: “We’re thrilled to be the first winners of this award. Sustainability has been really important to us throughout our time here. It’s a part of our lifestyle and ethos – we want Browsholme to be somewhere where the community matters and where the environment matters. It’s not all about reducing emissions – it’s about replacing and planting and growing for the future.
“Every time we look outside, we appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us – our children have grown up loving it and wanting to protect it. Our aim is to leave them with a healthy sustainable business that they’ll pass in their turn, with their own passions, to the people who follow them.” n
